Agriculture is the primary and widely practiced economic activity of Himachal Pradesh. The Department of Agriculture, under the state Government is doing an appreciable job ever since it came into existence. From 200 thousand tones in 1951-52 the production of food grains in the state came to 1453 thousand tones in 2005-06.
Maize is a key crop of Himachal Pradesh which had an estimated production of 543.06 thousand tones in 2005-06. While the wheat production was 550 thousand tones in 2005-06, the total rice production was 112.14 thousand tones in the same year.
Other than the prime crops, Himachal Pradesh is also quite progressive in the field of fruit and vegetable production. The vegetable production was 929.98 thousand tones in 2005-06. The production of potato in the state reached an all time high of 160 thousand tones in 2005-06.
Called as the apple state of India, Himachal Pradesh is quite efficient in growing high quality fruits. From apricots to apples, the place has a name of its own in the international fruit market which in turn leads to the economic sufficiency of the state.
The various land reforms acts that have been enacted in the state have hugely supported the immense development of the Agriculture industry of Himachal Pradesh. Being prone to land slides and soil erosion, the Agricultural area of the state is not much blessed with natural potentials. In order to prevent these natural disasters and to augment the gross productivity, the Government of the state had passed Himachal Pradesh Abolition of Big Landed Estates and Land Reforms Act in 1954.
Engaging around 74% of the total population of Himachal Pradesh, the Agriculture industry of the state employs about 93% of the rural people.
Efficiently providing a rich reserve of output round the year, the Agriculture of Himachal Pradesh brightens up the entire economic domain of the stat.
Last Updated on 21 March 2012
