: Saturday, November 22, 2025 4:48 PM
Shimla. Himachal Pradesh is known throughout the world for its natural beauty, climate and hilly geography. But this geography has also made agriculture here challenging. Small farms, scattered land holdings, limited irrigation resources and uncertainty of weather have always been major obstacles faced by farmers. In such a situation, Himachal Government’s ‘Him Krishi Yojana’ infuses new hope and new energy into the agricultural economy of the state. This ambitious scheme of the Himachal Government is an effort to take farmers beyond the limits of traditional farming and connect them with modern agricultural techniques, high-potential crops and scientific agricultural practices. This is not only an initiative to increase agricultural productivity but also a concrete step towards improving the living standards of farmers. Himachal’s agriculture is mainly dependent on monsoon rains. Due to uneven irrigation system and limited technical resources, farmers are not able to utilize the full potential of their land. Additionally, despite the huge potential of vegetables, fruit production and flowers, farmers were deprived of profits due to lack of proper training and equipment.
With the aim of overcoming these challenges, Himachal Government started Him Krishi Yojana, which is a multi-dimensional scheme made after understanding the comprehensive needs of the agricultural sector.
Under the scheme, farmers are being given subsidy ranging from 30 to 80 percent, ranging from small agricultural implements to advanced machinery suitable for hill farms. This has not only made farming easier but its cost has also reduced considerably.
Uncertainty of weather is the biggest challenge in the hills. Along with polyhouse, drip and sprinkler systems are proving to be game changers for farmers. Have been. In these structures, activities like production of off-season vegetables, seed production are becoming possible on a large scale. The availability of water in Himachal is as much of a challenge as is the need for efficient irrigation. The government has taken water management to a new level by providing assistance on drip and sprinkler systems. Now producing more with less water has become a reality.
The biggest success of Him Krishi Yojana is that the confidence among farmers has increased. Whereas earlier hilly farms were considered less productive, now commercial cultivation of modern varieties of cucumber, capsicum, tomato, and vegetable production in polyhouses is increasing the income of farmers manifold. This scheme is not limited to farmers only. Due to increase in agricultural production, activities in local markets have increased. Due to this, positive changes are clearly visible in the rural economy.
Him Krishi Yojana has also strengthened the role of women in villages. This scheme is a process of converting the farmer from a producer to an entrepreneur and not a consumer. This scheme is playing an important role in taking the state’s agriculture in the direction of modern technology, scientific thinking and sustainable development.
Rural economy is getting strengthened by Him Krishi Yojana: Deputy Commissioner
Deputy Commissioner Kangra Hemraj Bairwa said that the Honorable Chief Minister’s thinking is to strengthen the rural economy. Under this vision, Chief Minister Him Krishi Yojana is being operated in the state. Under this scheme, clusters of approximately 80 kanals of land are identified, where all necessary facilities and training are provided to ensure modernization of agriculture. Farmers’ capacity building, skill development and training on modern technologies are continuously organized in these clusters.
He said that the annual income of the farmers benefiting from this scheme is reaching about two and a half to three lakh rupees. For example, if farmers cultivate turmeric in these clusters, the government has promised to purchase it at MSP at the rate of Rs 90 per kg. On an average, up to five quintals of turmeric is produced from one canal, which gives an income of about Rs 45 thousand per canal.
On the contrary, if farmers grow crops like wheat or maize traditionally where chemical fertilizers and pesticides are used, then their income remains only Rs 4 to 5 thousand per kanal. At the same time, if farmers adopt natural farming based on cow dung and grow maize or wheat, their income can more than double. With crops like turmeric, this income increases four to ten times.
The Deputy Commissioner said that Him Krishi Yojana is playing an effective role in improving the rural economy, increasing the income of farmers and connecting them with such works which contribute positively to both the society and the economy. He also urged other farmers to take maximum advantage of this scheme and strengthen their income.
Benefits of Him Krishi Yojana are available in 37 clusters in the district: Kuldeep Dhiman
Deputy Director Agriculture Kuldeep Dhiman says that Himachal Government is running a scheme named Him Krishi from the year 2024-2025. The objective of this scheme was to select 2 to 3 clusters in each development block. Necessary agricultural materials like seeds, fertilizers or other essential items should be provided to the farmers included in the selected clusters to increase their crop production, so that the farmers can increase their production and establish their employment in agriculture. This was the main goal of this plan. Under this scheme, 37 clusters have been selected in Kangra district, whose total area is about 1770 bighas. About 1451 families under these clusters will benefit from this scheme.
The major activities carried out under this scheme last and this year include providing micro irrigation schemes to farmers and giving grants on them. Apart from this, polytunnels have been given to the farmers, so that they can earn good income by preparing nurseries. Turmeric seeds have also been made available to the farmers, so that they can take advantage of the government’s turmeric purchase scheme.
Kuldeep Dhiman says that farmers are encouraged for natural farming, farmers are also given grants for vermi compost and farmers are also helped in making pickles, chutneys etc. of their produce and selling it in the market.
What do the beneficiaries of Him Krishi Yojana say:
Anita Kumari, a farmer from Dictu Jheol village near Dharamshala, says, “8 polyhouses were installed in our village by the Agriculture Department. After this, under the Him Krishi Yojana, we got guidance that different types of vegetables can be grown in these. Initially we planted capsicum and then started growing cucumber. Presently we have 8 polyhouses running and 8 more are to be set up, in these polyhouses Hero Star and Snow Star varieties of cucumbers of Taiwan company have been planted. About 550 plants are planted in a polyhouse. To prepare the soil, we add country manure, neem cake, MP, calcium etc. to it. From these 8 polyhouses we get 10 to 12 tonnes of production, and if the crop is very good then even up to 20 tonnes. We contact vegetable market, Kangra and some hotels and sell cucumber there. Where polyhouses could not be set up, we have planted cabbage in the open. In this, some saplings were provided by the Agriculture Department and some we have planted ourselves. 28 farmer families of my village are associated with me and all are doing farming. They are also provided training and seeds etc. from time to time under the Agriculture Department and Him Krishi Yojana. After taking out all the expenses, we earn a profit of about Rs 2.5 lakh in two terms. If the crop is good, the income ranges from Rs 2.5 to Rs 3 lakh. Cucumber seeds cost around Rs 10 thousand. Apart from this, expenditure is also incurred on fertilizers, medicines etc. After all these expenses, the total income comes to around Rs 2.5 lakh.
Under this scheme, farmers Usha Devi, Vinta Devi, Kamlesh and Manohar Singh of village Dictu near Dharamshala say that due to the snow farming cluster in their village, they have got employment near their doorstep and their economy has also strengthened. They thank the Himachal government for this scheme.
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Web Title-Him Krishi Yojana: An initiative that gives a new direction to the agricultural heritage of the mountains. Himachal moves from traditional farming to modernity.
