Diversification in Agriculture

Diversification in Fruit and Vegetable Production

HARC is introducing a number of varieties of fruits and vegetables in Uttrakhand hills to increase food security as well as for increasing various options for ensured livelihood.  The new vegetable crops introduced in the area are Tomato, Pea, French Bean, Cabbage, Coriander, Carrot, Cucumber, Beetroot, Chhappan Kaddu, Capsicum, Broccoli, Lettuce etc. Now farmers are growing 78 varieties of 16 kinds of vegetables. Through various training and demonstrations, HARC also encouraged the farmers to grow fruits like Pomegranate, Walnut, Kiwi, Plum, Pear, Peach, Parsiman and Malta. Diverse variety of fruits has opened up a new channel for income for the local people. Now farmers are getting good money by selling   fruits like pear, plum, kiwi etc.

Diversification in Traditional Crops

HARC is promoting diversification and production of traditional food grain crops to ensure the food security of the people in the region. A mission is started by HARC to revive, conserve and propagate seeds of traditional crops in the region. One of the major objectives of this mission is to increase the farmer's control over seed production according to their choice. Under this mission, technical dissemination of good variety of pulses like Rajma (Kidney Gram), Tor (Red Gram), Gahath (Horse Gram) and Uradh (Black Gram) is being  done through field level demonstrations.   HARC give much emphasis on organic production of pulses, spices and millets. The farmers are encouraged to exchange seeds with farmers of the other regions for a good harvest. Seed banks have been promoted in different villages to meet the demand of the farmers for local seeds.

Promotion of Organic Farming

HARC is promoting organic farming in a big way in Uttrakhand region. This mission has gained momentum after the state government declared the state of Uttarakhand  as an organic state. The main objective of the mission is to reduce the production cost by reducing the external inputs and to maintain the health and fertility of the soil for a long time. For this, HARC has motivated more than 4000 farmers of Uttarkashi and Chamoli districts of Uttrakhand   to adopt organic farming techniques. The information on techniques and methods of organic farming is being disseminated through capacity building programs. Practical trainings on organic manure preparation and other organic farming techniques is a regular process . HARC is also facilitating the process for organic certification, for which  farmers are being trained  in organic certification documentation process.

Organic Farming Techniques Promoted by HARC

• Integrated Pest Management

• Integrated Plant Nutrient Management

• Wormi  Compost

• Wormi Wash

• Liquid Manure

• Cow Pat Pit

• Agnihotra

• Panchgabya

• Tree Pest

• Green Manure

• Nadep Compost

• Bio-Dynamic Compost