A Japanese-funded crop diversification project in Himachal Pradesh had led a significant increase in average net farm income as a fourfold increase in income of participating farmers, as per a study, officials said on Sunday.
Funded by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency(JICA), the Rs 321 crore Himachal Pradesh Crop Diversification Promotion Projectis being implemented in the hill state’s Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Mandi andUna districts.
The study on the project’s first phase (2011-18) was carriedout by the National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management.
The project, with the targeted outcome to improve thesocio-economic status of the farmers, also aims to develop infrastructure suchas irrigation facilities and farm access roads while providing technicaltraining to the farmers on vegetable cultivation, food grain cultivation and post-harvestingtechnology.
Principal Secretary, Agriculture, Onkar Sharma said afterthe success of the first phase, the project has been extended till 2020.
He said the Central government has given in principleapproval to Phase-II with an outlay of Rs 1,104 crore and it would beimplemented in all 12 districts of the state. This project has been sent toJICA for fund approval.
Implementation of the project in five districts haswitnessed a considerable shift in the area from cereals to vegetables afterirrigation facility was provided through this project, said Sharma citing thereport.
In order to boost agricultural development and enhance farmincome, it is important to increase productivity of the existing cultivatedarea, through shifting from self-subsistence cultivation to diversifiedagriculture, by adopting cash crops such as vegetables suitable in hilly andhighland areas, it said.
To accomplish this goal, it is important to overcomeconstraints like shortage of irrigation facilities, farm roads and insufficientmarketing facilities, it added.