by D.S. Thakur
Professor of Agricultural Economics
Regional Research Station, Bajaura

This paper presents the data and findings of the hi-tech agriculture and sustainable farming systems - implemented during the last seven years on the farmers' fields in Himachal Pradesh hills. It will be noted that a systems approach is followed to bring about significant changes and a quantum jump in agricultural production and income as done during the course of this study.

The results are remarkable and unbelievable - yields of 40 to 50 quintals per hectare of foodgrains and 200 to 360 quintals of fruits and vegetables with the high income of upto Rs. 2.55 lakhs and an average of nearly 2 lakhs or so per farm under the IIHFS in the hills of Himachal Pradesh. If this is possible in Himachal Pradesh, why not elsewhere in India. Of course, this is nowhere near the actual potential comparing to, say, an average wheat yield of 87.71 quintals per hectare in the Netherlands. In view of the untapped agricultural potential and the increasing demand for food due to the ever-increasing population, the banks must come forward in a big way to finance the IIHFS and other activities of the farmers for sustainable agriculture, to ensure food security and freedom from hunger and malnutrition and transition to an era of agricultural prosperity.