The scheme was launched in January 2009 by the Department of Agriculture with the assistance of NABARD. With a view to increase the socio-economic conditions of 85% small and marginal farmers and provide gainful employment to rural youth and local artisans and other workers, a project on production of cash crops through adoption of precision farming practices (polyhouse and micro irrigation along with water source augmentation structures) shall be implemented. Project components include need-based infrastructure and is expected to fulfill following objectives:

• Higher productivity and better quality of produce.
• Protected cultivation of cash crops to provide safeguard against adverse weather.
• To get higher productivity on sustainable basis through adoption of precisions farming practices like precision planting/seeding, fertigation, micro-irrigation, weed management, pest and diseases management etc.
• Efficient inputs use and reduced environmental damages.
• Conservation of scarce resource i.e. water.
• Easy to adopt organic farming practices which are eco-friendly and availability of safe food products with full traceability.
• Farmers can advance/delay and segregate production of cash crops as per market demand.
• Safeguard against impact of biotic and abiotic stresses.

The project is being implemented in all districts of the State with an outlay of Rs.353.01 Crores. It comprises of two parts i.e. production of cash crops through adoption of precision farming practices through polyhouse cultivation for Rs.154.92 Crores and a project on diversification of agriculture through micro-irrigation and other related infrastructure for Rs.198.08 Crores. For poly house and micro irrigation 80% subsidy is available, whereas, for creation of water source 50% subsidy is available.

• Farming families directly dependent on agriculture, preference to SF/ MF.
• Unemployed educated youth having farmland.
• Other farmers who are innovative and are following practices like organic farming, INM, IPM etc.
• Farmers of area having production constraints due to hailstorm, water stress, very high rainfall, frost, severe winters etc.
• Farming families, who have already constructed poly houses upto 1000 Sq.m. shall not be eligible for assistance in this project.
   

Contact

Directorate of Agriculture,
Krishli Bhawan,
Boileauganj
Shimla 171005
Himachal Pradesh
Phone-0177-2830162, 2830618, 2830174 Ext.-606