Optimum Cropping System for Food and Economic Security in Hilly Regions of Himachal Pradesh

This investigation was undertaken in Baijnath block of Kangra district in Himachal Pradesh to study the economics of irrigated cropping system and suggest alternative cropping systems to increase farm income, and food and livelihood security of marginal landholders. For study, data were collected through survey method during the year 2015–16 and ‘goal programming’ technique was employed to develop alternative profitable cropping system plans. Among the major cropping systems followed, paddy-wheat accounted for more than 80 per cent of the cultivated area. The study has suggested five optimized plans with improved technology, decrease in area under paddy-wheat to 50–60 per cent and increase in area under ginger-garlic. The inclusion of a crossbred cow in the plan would lead to more area allocation to fodder based cropping systems and consequently more returns. However, capital requirement and labour employment would also increase under optimized plans. The study has suggested that profitable ventures such as ginger-garlic cropping system, protected cultivation and dairy farming should be encouraged to increase farm income and achieve food, nutritional and livelihood security even on smallholdings in the study area.