Since the ecosystem of the hill regions is very different from the plains, it is essential to focus on the agriculture of the hill districts of Uttarakhand in a different manner. Hence, the agriculture program focuses on issues, those hinders the agriculture development and also an ignored sector in the mountains. Farmer in the hills has been primarily engaged in subsistence agriculture. The low agricultural yield in the hills reflects the small size and scattered land holdings, difficult terrain, lack of irrigation facilities and improved inputs and technology, and lack of credit and marketing facilities. The increasing climate variability has further affected these hill agro-ecosystems adversely. Markets have not been developed in the high mountain because the area contributes the least to the State’s production.


With the blend of limitations and advantages of Uttarakhand’s mountain topography and its unique agricultural ecosystem, Himmotthan has considered the key interventions in agriculture program which includes, introduction of high yielding varieties and production technologies, seed production, farm mechanization, establishment of custom hiring center, introduction of solar lift irrigation system, ensuring critical inputs through community institution run Community Facility Center (CFC), developing local youth as agent of dissemination of technologies and building community institutions for developing and sustaining market linkages.


Himmotthan has designed to take forward the pilot interventions carried out over the past few years. A project entitled, ‘Maximizing Mountain Agriculture Project’ funded by ‘The Hans Foundation (THF)’ was implemented in 90 villages spread out in the 6 clusters of 6 mountain districts. The project has been implemented in participatory manner by involving communities, project partners, government line department, R&D institutes and external resource persons.


The Uttarakhand’s mountains are rainfed and unirrigated with poor top soils. Pulses and legumes have traditionally been grown as they are hardy, survive well without water and other inputs, and are a major source of protein, and have a high market value. However, regional farmers face increasing losses in pulse production due to a lack of improved varieties, production and post-harvest technologies, value addition and the lack of organised marketing in the region. Therefore, Himmotthan has rolled out another project entitled, ‘Mission Pulses- Uttarakhand’ with the support of the ‘Tata Trusts’. An integrated, community institution-driven model will be promoted and strengthened to establish a systematic, sustainable, pulse-legume supply chain in mission mode.


Himmotthan has also implemented post disaster livelihood projects with the support of Tata Relief Committee and Titan, under which agriculture was the key component for the interventions. Overall, the agriculture initiative has reached out to 225 villages across 18 project clusters from 9 mountain districts, with over 18,000 HHs involved in cultivation, processing and marketing of pulses, spices, high value crops and seed.

Key Achievements



225 villages across 9 districts covered under mountain agriculture interventions

Over 18,000 households involved in cultivating high value crops and seed production (i.e. cereals, millets, pulses, spices, vegetables and fruits) in over 514 acre area

3,729 farmers have been trained on improved production technologies, seed production, post harvest and marketing

2 solar lift based irrigation schemes were established, overall 39.9 acre area covered under various irrigation means including micro irrigation system

40 individual farm machines (power tiller, power weeder, seed drills, various threshers, etc.) were supplied and demonstrated in the farmers field

5 Custom Hiring Centers (CHC) were established by dovetailing of agriculture department funds. These centers are being managed and operated by cluster level federation and farmer groups

110 quintals of seed mountain crops was procured by cluster level federations and supplied to their member farmers after processing

27 Community Facility Centers (CFC), established for critical inputs supply to farmers and run by the community institutions, has done business of Rs. 1.79 Crore during the year and earned profit of Rs.9.36 Lakhs

Women are selling cabbage
Paddy seedlings transplantation after irrigation
Line sowing- Pulses
Use of machines for proper seed sowing
Land preparation for Rajma seed sowing at Munsiyari
Staking of Rajma Plants
Himmotthan Head Office

193, Vasant Vihar, Phase-2

Behind Shri Guru Ram Rai Public School

District-Dehradun

Uttarakhand, India - 248006

Contact Number : (0135)- 2760728, 2761796


Himmotthan WATSAN Office

41, Vasant Vihar, Phase-2

District-Dehradun

Uttarakhand, India - 248006

Contact Number : (0135)- 2762966


Himmotthan Regional Offices
1. Kumaun Region-Almora

(Mohalla Talla Galli, Jakhan Devi, Almora, Uttarakhand India, 263609)

2. Garhwal Region Office- Chamoli

Near Petrol Pump, Gopeshwar,District Chamoli, Uttarakhand, India

3. Garhwal Region Office- Jadipani

Gram Saud, Jadipani, Chamba Block, District Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India

 
4. Himmotthan Society/Tata Trusts PMU Leh

C/o Advocate Otsal Wangdus near Postal Colony
Housing Colony Leh - 194101 (Ladakh), India
Tel: 01982-253553

 
Designed and Developed by MIS UNIT HIMMOTTHAN