Tech rejigs apple state’s agri-map

Significantly, the study—conducted by the Centre for Geo-Informatics at the Palampur agriculture university and funded by the agriculture department—redefines the state’s agro-climatic zones, raising the number from four to 10. Earlier, crop-zoning was broadly based on elevations; as a result development blocks and tehsils in the key districts of Kangra, Mandi, Chamba, Una, Bilaspur and Hamirpur fell through the cracks.

Officials now hope these areas could be future thrust areas for high-value cash crops and fruits. ‘‘There is a big case for boosting the state’s income from the primary sectors,’’ says D K Sharma, principal adviser, planning. ‘‘This study could help the agriculture department do some hard planning.’’

A major advantage in the zoning plan is the traditional willingness of subsistence farmers to try anything once. One experiment with apples turned the potato-producing parts of Theog, Kotkhai and Rohru into productive members of the fruit bowl; from paddy or cereals, Sirmour similarly converted to ginger; since then the rhizome has become a major cash crop in Solan, Shimla and Una districts.

With crop-diversification the new buzz, the Palampur University study is expected to come in specially handy. Sharma, for instance, is in favour of switching over to new fruit varieties, cut flowers, medicinal herbs, off-season vegetables and cultivation of cereals.

‘‘If a disease or a natural calamity repeatedly blights a crop in a particular area, geo-IT tools can help relocate the crop,’’ says Dr R M Bhagar, programme director at the Centre for Geo-Informatics Research and Training at Palampur University. ‘‘For instance, if ginger is hit by rot in Sirmour, we know it can prosper in Kangra and Chamba, where the biophysical parameters will suit the crop.’’

Though a small state, Himachal Pradesh possesses great diversity in elevation, climate, soil and water availability. The relatively flat areas in the south-western part of the state between 0-1,250 meters are known for wheat, barley, rice and vegetables. In the next elevation zone—upto 1750 m—horticulture crops such as peach, pear, plum and apricot are popular crops, while between 1,750 m and 2,750 m, potato, cherry and walnuts do well. The higher elevations are best known for small millets and apple. Above 3250 m, only extensive livestock breeding is possible.

The database prepared by the Centre for Geo-Informatics, however, is likely to alter the entire scenario, enabling small and marginal hill farmers to take the lead in spearheading changes in the country’s agro-economy.