Agricultural Transformation in Trans Himalayan Region of Himachal Pradesh: Cropping Pattern, Technology Adoption and Emerging Challenges

This paper on agricultural transformation has studied changes in the cropping pattern, adoption process of new technology, sources of information about new technology and emerging threats to the existing cropping pattern in ten villages of the Spiti sub-division of Lahaul-Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh. The study based on the data collected from 200 sample households has revealed significant changes in the cropping pattern with traditional crops like potato, barley and black pea being increasingly replaced by green pea. Apple, another cash crop, is gaining popularity due to perceptible changes in climatic conditions. The factors that have led to the introduction of new crops include improved road connectivity, better means of transportation, decline in the demand of traditional crops, availability of favourable micro climatic niches, availability of new crop inputs like hybrid seeds, chemicals and fertilizes, emerging new markets, etc. The introduction of new crops/technology has taken 1 to 3 years. The officials of the state departments of agriculture and horticulture, followed by relatives and friends have been the important sources of information about new crops/technology. The study has listed some potential threats to the cultivation of high-value cash crops. The technological innovations in terms of educating the farmers about the latest package and practices on farming of high value cash crops, development of diseaseresistant varieties of crops like green pea are necessary for promoting economic viability and ecological sustainability in Himachal Pradesh. The most important policy support, therefore, would be enhanced investment on agricultural R&D for evolving new technologies to not only retain but also strengthen the comparative advantage being enjoyed by the state.