Crop diversification under Japan firm boon for farmers

33 irrigation schemes work on solar energy, cutting expenditure drastically

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About the project

The project aims at promoting crop diversification in Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Mandi and Una districts through development of necessary infrastructure like irrigation facilities and farm access roads, along with technical training for farmers on vegetable, food grain cultivation and post-harvest management.

Dinesh Kanwar

Our Correspondent

Hamirpur, October 18

While the crop diversification project has improved the economy of farmers, 33 irrigation schemes out of 70 that are operating on solar energy have reduced the expenditure for farmers in the region. The Rs 321 crore Himachal Pradesh Crop Diversification Project (HPCDP) was started in the region with funding from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in 2011. The project aimed at promoting crop diversification in the target areas of five districts, including Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Mandi and Una, in the state through development of necessary infrastructure like irrigation facilities and farm access roads, along with technical training of farmers on vegetable, food grain cultivation and post-harvest management.

Sunita Patial, a progressive farmer and educator from Lahri village near here, said the HPCDP and JICA had brought revolutionary improvement in farming in the villages. She said farmers, apart from conventional farming, had adopted cultivation of mushrooms, peas, broccoli etc.

Dr Vinod Sharma, project director, said 70 irrigation schemes were introduced by JICA that included 31 in Hamirpur, 20 in Bilaspur and 19 in Una. He said 33 of threse were operating on solar energy that had become boon for farmers as they had zero expenditure on electricity.

These 33 solar powered irrigation schemes included 12 in Hamirpur, 11 in Bilaspur and 10 in Una districts. He said over Rs 5 crore had been spent on the construction of these irrigation schemes. The major objective was to increase income per unit area per unit time by diversifying to cash crop cultivation. He said sustainable growth of agriculture sector by promoting organic farming and ensuring prosperity of small and marginal farmers was the motive of the project. The knowledge and skill enhancement of farmers for the adoption of scientific technologies in cultivation, operation and maintenance of irrigation schemes was the success of crop diversification in the region, he added.