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J. C. Rana , B. D. Sharma , B. J. Jha , Manoj Kumar

Abstract

A complete package of practices for commercial cultivation of Hedychium spicatum Ham. ex. Smith , Valeriana wallichii DC. and Roscoea purpurea Royle were worked out at National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources , Regional Station , Shimla. The seed rhizomes weighed about 40-50 g of H. spicatum planted at a row-to-row and plant-to-plant distance of 45cm × 30 cm in the furrows at depth of 10-12cm and applied with well rotten FYM at the rate of 30-35 tonnes/ha and have given yield of 115-120 q/ha matured rhizomes after 2 years. Planting of V. wallichii into rows 40-50 cm apart and at 20-30 cm spacing between plants along with a dose of 35-40 tonnes FYM yielded 70-75 q/ha fresh ischolar_main mass and dried ischolar_main mass of 20-25 qlha. its autumn harvest (September-October) after two years is considered optimal. The seed tubes of R. purpurea weighed 4-5 g gave yield of 25-30 q/ha when sown in furrows with row-to-row distance and plant-to-plant distance of 30 × 15cm at 8cm depth and applied with FYM dose of 25-30 tonnes/ha.

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A. K. Sarial ¹, K. D. Sharma ², Virender Kumar ², J. C. Rana ³, V. K. Sharma ³, V. Nath ³

Affiliations
1 CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur-176 062, IN
2 Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension Education & Rural Sociology, CSKHPKV, Palampur, IN
3 HP CDP, JICA, Hamirpur, IN

Abstract

A Crop Diversification Promotion Project (CDP) was implemented in Himachal Pradesh (HP) with the collaboration of the Japan International Cooperation Agency-Official Development Assistance (JICA-ODA) in 2012. It lasted for 7 years with the objective to improve the socio-economic status of farm families. The operational area had 210 sub project sites spread over five districts viz., Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Mandi and Una of the state. The project was implemented following a comprehensive package of multi-pronged strategy encompassing infrastructure development (such as irrigation, farm access roads, markets, etc.), inputs supply (seeds, fertilizers, farm machinery, etc.) supported by technical and capacity building programmes and strengthening of extension services and organized marketing. The impact study on socioeconomic status of farm families was carried out based upon the extensive review of information collected from the status reports and evaluation studies conducted by different agencies in the operational area. Study revealed that CDP project has been quite successful in improving the socio-economic status of farm families across project sites. There has been increase in the irrigated area and the area under vegetable crops. Cropping pattern changed resulting into 35-50 per cent of the farms being highly diversified with 50 per cent of the area under vegetable crops. In general, the extent of diversification was 9.69 per cent for vegetables crops in Mid and Low Hills under HPCDP-JICA project. Farm productivity and income increased by more than 3.5 times over the baseline income. In some cases increase in income was 5-6 times. The increase in income was attributed to several contributing factors and interventions carried out under HPCDP initiatives. Major contributors were found to be assured irrigation, capacity building programmes, introduction of improved varieties/ cultivation practices and proper/ balanced use of nutrients. Operational farm efficiency also registered improvement due to use of improved tools and machinery provided under the project. Overall, the project enhanced the cropping intensity, productivity, production and marketed surplus. Keeping in view, the impact on raising income and food security of farm families, it is advocated to expand the HPCDP domain to cover farm families in all districts of Himachal Pradesh.

Keywords

Crop Diversification, HPCDP Sub Project, Production of Vegetable Crops, Growth Rates, Gross Income, Impact Factors, Input-Output Ratio.

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