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HP govt launches steps to boost agricultural output
The Himachal Pradesh government has launched a multi-pronged strategy to expand the irrigation network and give technology back up to the farmers to boost foodgrain and vegetable production in the state.
The Himachal Pradesh government has launched a multi-pronged strategy to expand the irrigation network and give technology back up to the farmers to boost foodgrain and vegetable production in the state.
“We have decided to implement 328 minor irrigation schemes at a cost of Rs 30.58 crore under the rural infrastructural development fund covering 7400 hectare area, besides a community based water harvesting project covering 133 watersheds,” an official spokesman said.
In addition to this 7000 hectare area would be provided irrigation facility under national watershed development project for rural areas, partly funded by NABARD. “The step was required as nearly 70 per cent of the population of the state was dependent on agriculture and only 20 per cent of the cultivated area was under irrigation, remaining 80 per cent being rainfed,” the spokesman said.
“Measures have also been adopted to strengthen the nine existing soil testing laboratories and two new mobile soil testing labs. A pesticide testing laboratory had been set up at Shimla,” he added.
“We propose to raise the vegetable production from 5.80 lakh tonnes at present to 10-lakh tonnes by 2007,” he said adding that six new bazaars have been set up at strategic places to expand the marketing facilities of vegetables. A new project, 'women in agriculture', to impart training study tours, exhibition of products in a bid to encourage women participation in agriculture has also been chalked out. Bureau Report
In addition to this 7000 hectare area would be provided irrigation facility under national watershed development project for rural areas, partly funded by NABARD. “The step was required as nearly 70 per cent of the population of the state was dependent on agriculture and only 20 per cent of the cultivated area was under irrigation, remaining 80 per cent being rainfed,” the spokesman said.
“Measures have also been adopted to strengthen the nine existing soil testing laboratories and two new mobile soil testing labs. A pesticide testing laboratory had been set up at Shimla,” he added.
“We propose to raise the vegetable production from 5.80 lakh tonnes at present to 10-lakh tonnes by 2007,” he said adding that six new bazaars have been set up at strategic places to expand the marketing facilities of vegetables. A new project, 'women in agriculture', to impart training study tours, exhibition of products in a bid to encourage women participation in agriculture has also been chalked out. Bureau Report