Status of agriculture and horticulture farming in the hill state of India- Uttarakhand

Abstract

India is also known as an agricultural country and its allied activities act as main source of livelihood for approximately 55% of workers and provide security to rural India (Census 2011). Only in Uttarakhand as in whole majority of farmers belong to the small and marginal category and produce near about half of the total grains. Over 55 percent of cultivated area of Uttarakhand is rainfed with frequent moisture stress to crops. If we talk about the fertility of the soil quality of Uttarakhand then it is low to medium. As an idealized model of farming practice mixed farming has proved particularly attractive in hilly area while in the plains in a given season, mostly monocropping is practiced. Uttarakhand state falls under 9th and 14th agroclimatic zones as given by the agro-climatic regional planning by Planning Commission. In this study we have gathered recent data related to horticulture and agriculture, operational land, land holding pattern, irrigation networks on the basis of survey in districts of Uttarakhand.