Himachal Journal of Agricultural Research

Virender Kumar ¹, Heena Sharma ¹, Divya Sharma ¹, Shivalika ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension Education and Rural Sociology, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur - 176 062, IN

Abstract

India is the second largest producer of vegetables with a share of nearly 11 per cent of the total world's vegetable production. Of late, vegetable growing has become main plank of agricultural development strategy in Himachal Pradesh and consequently area under vegetables (excluding potato) has increased to 76.947 thousand hectares producing 1653.506 thousand tonnes in the state. Tomato alone accounts for nearly one-third of total vegetables production in the state. Its cultivation has been extended to mid and low hill areas of Mandi, Kangra, Bilaspur, Hamirpur districts. With this background, the present study was conducted in Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh. In this district, tomato is the main vegetable crop which contributes about 37 per cent to the total vegetables production. The present study sought to examine the profile and problems of tomato cultivation in Bilaspur district. The study is based on secondary as well as primary data. The area under tomato cultivation in the district has been found to increase from 740 hectares in 2004-05 to 822 hectares in 2016-17. The total production of tomato crop in the district has also shown a significant increase from 25900 tonnes to 31236 tonnes during this period. Area, production and productivity of tomato in Bilaspur district witnessed a growth rate of 0.49, 2.02, and 1.52 per cent per annum, respectively whereas these were 1.68, 4.46, and 2.73 per cent for the state. Regarding problems in tomato cultivation, the non-availability of improved varieties at the time of sowing, lack of awareness about high yielding and disease resistant varieties and lack of storage facilities were the severe problems in the study area. Hence, overcoming these problems and constraints can pave way for increased tomato production in the district.

Keywords

Area, Productivity, Problems of Tomato Cultivation.

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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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Shivalika Sood ¹, Virender Kumar ¹, Harbans Lal ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Agricultural Economics Extension Education & Rural Sociology, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishavidyalaya, Palampur - 176 062, IN

Abstract

The land use pattern of an area is an outcome of demographic, environmental, technical, and institutional factors. Information on land use changes is necessary for understanding the relationships between humans and the natural environment. The purpose of this article is to review the previous studies on the spatiotemporal changes on land use in India. Drawing upon the enormous information of forty two studies conducted between 1979 and 2019, this article aimed to study the changes in land use pattern and different factors affecting land use using different methods across space and time. The findings show that compound growth rate and percentages were mostly employed to study these changes and regression analysis was used to determine the factors affecting the land use. Moreover, these articles concluded that land use changes occurred as a result of both natural and man-made factors which lead to increase in one category of land use and decrease in another. Therefore, proper monitoring of these land use changes when applied will help the government agencies and environmental managers in managing the use of most scarce natural resource on this planet.

Keywords

Land Use, Spatio-Temporal Changes, Compound Growth Rates, Regression Analysis.

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Diksha Sethi ¹, Virender Kumar ¹, Harbans Lal ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension Education and Rural Sociology College of Agriculture, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur-176 062,, IN

Abstract

The study aims to examine the growth performance of vegetables in Himachal Pradesh. The study is entirely based on secondary data collected from various publications of the state government. The trends in area, production and yield of major vegetables in Himachal Pradesh were worked out through compound growth rate, instability index and decomposition analysis. The analysis was done for the period, triennium ending (TE) 1997-98 to 2021-22. The study revealed that area, production and productivity of vegetable crops increased during the study period, however, the increase in area and production was higher than increase in the productivity. Also, the growth trend of total vegetable crops in the state was significant in area (5.47% p.a), production (6.64% p.a) and productivity (1.12% p.a). Among different vegetables grown in the state, greatest increase in the area, production and productivity was found in cauliflower followed by peas. The peas had dominated the cropping pattern with maximum share in area (27.53%) and tomato had maximum share in the production (27.80%). The instability in area, production and yield of selected vegetables and total vegetables was found very low which indicated that area under vegetables has increased steadily. Decomposition analysis of vegetable production revealed that overall increase in production of vegetable crops was due to area expansion. It was concluded that both agro-ecological as well as economic factors favour the cultivation of vegetable crops in Himachal Pradesh.

Keywords

Vegetables, growth, instability and decomposition analysis.

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