Himalayan Development Project benefiting farmers economically

Banihar (HP), Aug 7 (ANI): Farmers in Himachal Pradesh are receiving benefits from the Himalayan Development Project, initiated by the state authorities.

The Mid-Himalayan Development Project, which was started in 2005 in India's northern state of Himachal Pradesh, is helping farmers' increase their productivity.

The project covers four sectors, which includes agriculture, forest, watershed and livestock management.

The overall goal of the project is to reverse the process of degradation of the natural resource base and improve the productive potential of natural resources and incomes of the rural households in the project area.

The project benefits are expected to reach to around 25000 poor families in the project area excluding Lahul-Spiti and Kinnaur Districts of the state. It covers councils of 602 villages located at an altitude of 2000 to 6000 feet from the sea level.

Farmers in Shimla believe that such projects have helped them in increasing their income.

"From the mid-Himalayan Project, people are earning from rupees 5000-rupees 50,000. Earlier we used to earn a meager amount from farming but with this project initiative, all the employed youths have started getting work and are earning quite well," said Ramesh, a resident.

Forest Minister J.P. Nadda said that the project has a holistic approach towards the development of the farmers.

"The first thing is to improve the land conservation part for the farmer and we should bring a holistic approach to the development of the farmers in their agriculture proceeds. The Project is a miracle in its own way because it considers the development of the farmers and the village dwellers from the grass roots," he added.

This Mid-Himalayan Development Project is an extension of the Kandi project in 1990. It is a 36.5 billion rupees project, which will conclude in 2013 in ten districts of the state. (ANI)