Uttarakhand - Department of Land Resources

MAJOR PROBLEMS AND CONSTRAINTS OF AGRICULTURE
PRODUCTION IN UTTARAKHAND
Like elsewhere in Indian in the state of Uttarakhand, the farmers also adopt two types of
agriculture practices i.e. the rainfed and the irrigated. Cereals are emphasised in the
irrigated agriculture and two crops are taken in an agriculture year. However in the
rainfed system millets, pulses and tuber crops are grown along with cereals and other
oilseeds. Mono cropping is a common practice in the irrigated areas. Contrary to this
mixed cropping is common in rainfed areas. Mixed cropping, practiced in the hilly region
helps in maintaining the crop diversity and reduces the risk of environmental and
business uncertainty.
The land use pattern of crops in Uttarakhand reflects a declining trend in the acreage of
conventional crops like barley and at the same time increase in non-conventional crops
like soyabean and other vegetable crops. Farmers are gradually shifting from low value
crops to high value crops. The decline in the area under traditional crop has been
relatively higher in the Kharif season as compared to Rabi season. During the kharif
season the farmers are putting a sizable land area under the production of offseason
vegetables. The land under production of traditional kharif crop has declined at 10
percent as against 8 percent for rabi crop. Despite the small holdings most of the
farmers who are relatively well connected to the market and have adequate irrigation
facility have opted for a shift in production from low value food grains to high value
commercial crops particularly vegetable and pulses.
The distinct geographical features of Uttarakhand with dominantly mountainous part,
coupled with Bhabar & Terai regions makes it a unique region where it is possible to
grow varieties of fruits, flowers and other horticultural crops. With altitude gradient
varying from 250 meters above sea level to 7187 meters above sea level, combination
of geographical features determines the climatic condition favourable for many fruit
crops, consequently, nearly all types of fruits ranging from tropical to temperate fruits
can be grown easily.
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