Mountain Agricultural Policy (MAP)

Before laying any policy for agriculture, weakness and strength of the agriculture are important areas to be evaluated. Maintain agriculture has several limitations:

Small land holding and limited area in agriculture,

Poor agri-practices: pre-post harvesting,

Poor climatic advantage approach,

Poor productivity and commercialilzaion,

Poor value addition,

Poor irrigation, fertilizer,

Poor approach to long-term sustainable plan.


Nevertheless, mountain has certain merits which isolate it from rest of the country,

Climatic advantage: vary within a short distance and thus the produce,

Production rich agriculture diversity,

Mountain specific crops: seasonal and off-seasonal, others can not grow,

Low chemical use in agricultural,

Ecological cropping and food,

Nutri rich agri-produce

Phytonutriceutical cropping.


With the above background, some serious thoughts can be given to overcome weakness and promote strength further. Following suggestions can be incorporated to:

There must be fixed % age of land agriculture specially when growing threat of encroachment of agricultural land for industrialization and other development activities.

Agri-culture to commerce concept need to be visualized essentially in the light of ecology, climate and other strength.

Value addition in farm produce is poorest in the state: small-scale decentralized industries preferably community controlled to be promoted.

Public distribution system must also be public collection centre as small and marginal farmer fails to get return from their surplus produce.

Material exchange can be one strategy where farmers can exchange his produce with other needful material or cash.

Since mountains are climatically rich, each, valley should also be identified with its agri-resources. This would help in regional identity and promotion of with its agri-resources.

Bank of the rivers carries enormous potential for agri-produce. A blue print to utilize river water for multiple water application is prepared.

Small industries (cottage) should be proposed in rural area specially related to value addition in agriculture/horticulture sector with the collaboration of farmer. Like small scale sugar processing unit (Kolhu) need to be upgraded for better output in the interest of small farmers.

Crop damage due to wild animal is becoming prevalent factor, as about 20-30% of the total produce is being damaged by wild animals. Alternative crop management practices should be adopted.

Most of the agriculture land is un-irrigated. Technology availability to farmers for appropriates economic use of water should be imparted.

For effective scientific inputs, Agriculture Service Centers (ASC) should be developed at block level. Agriculture graduates can be involved for such task as self employment initiative.

The geography & environmental conditions favours the traditional crops like Finger millet, Buck wheat, Barnyard millet, Foxtail millet etc., which were largely ignored in the past. There should be adequate attention for the revival of these crops. These crops are mainstay of livelihood of community.

An Agriculture Council should be established to be developed to promote need based packages and technologies for the state ecosystem.