One of
the key thrust areas of HARC is
technical
intervention for increasing agriculture production, food and economic
security and for ensuring livelihood for rural poor. Agriculture is the main
source of livelihood in the hills. For sustainability in production of
agricultural produce and to address the problems of low productivity and
lack of technical knowledge, HARC provides technical support during
pre-cultivation, cultivation and post-cultivation period to the farmer
interest groups and their federations. High quality production,
diversification of crops, organic farming, promotion of rural technology,
conservation and propagation of traditional local seeds and value addition
to local products are the major areas of focus under technical intervention
for livelihood promotion .
HARC promotes organic
farming in the hills by building the capacities of the farmers in the areas
of organic
farm planning, organic documentation, internal control system (ICS), farm
mapping system, training and demonstration on techniques of organic farming
like- vermi-compost, NADEP, liquid manure, wormii wash. HARC is facilitating
the process of organic certification of 900 hectares of agricultural land
of more than 4000 farmers in districts Uttarkashi, and Chamoli.
Diversification in
production of cash crops as well as the traditional crops is being promoted
to increase the income of rural households. For this HARC emphasises on
annual crop cycle and farm planning, development of production zones,
introduction of variety of crops, propagation of traditional local seeds
and development of common facility centres to provide technical assistance.
HARC organises
trainings, demonstrations, interface events between farmers and scientists,
for disseminating advance agricultural techniques to promote scientific and
healthy agricultural practices. The major agricultural techniques promoted
by HARC are - integrated pest management (IPM), conservation of traditional
seeds, polyhouse
technology, plant protection, soil conservation, iron wire staking,
nursery raising & orchard management etc . HARC also facilitates the
linkage building between farmers and different technical institutions, agri-input
service providers and technical experts to ensure the regular availability
of agri-inputs and technical knowledge to farmers.
More than 10,000
farmers have been benefited in the region through extension services of
HARC. A cadre of para
technicians (Bare-foot Scientists)
developed by HARC have been instrumental to take the mission forward.
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