Thursday, January 17, 2013

Greenhouse revolution in Himachal -unfruitful

We at Karsog are still the leaders in exotic vegetable production though none of the greenhouse fabricated under Pt Deen Dayal Kisan Bagwan Samridhi Yojana start giving results as expected by the scientists. I was regularly doing analyses and watching the activities of our Agricultural Officials. On interaction they found to be handicapped with the hard guidelines of the scheme( they cant deviate). So I decided to write a letter to top official Sh P Mitra, additional chief secretary capable of amending the guidelines according to needs. I personally know Sh P Mittra to be very cooperative and supportive when he happened to be our Patron at Solan. That time I was the President of Navchetna Kala Manch, a platform for social awareness and cultural activities.I shall keep all the correspondence in this blog so that people know how sensitive our governance is.


To                                                                                                                     Date: January, 17th 2013.
Sh P Mitra
Additional Chief Secretary, Agriculture
H.P. Secretariat , Shimla., H.P
Dear Sir,
Regarding:    Pt. Deen Dayal Kisan Bagwan  Samridhi Yojna, guidelines.
I have the honour to make genuine request for your consideration and favourable action that the scheme is coming to an end this March. I being the mentor for 350 farmers in Karsog area failed to understand why this scheme has not benefitted to the poor farmers of the area. I put concerted efforts  through Sh Ram Subhag Singh , then agriculture Secretary and he promised me that he would amend the guidelines if any thing required  to  make this scheme effective and result oriented specially for farmers, but nothing happened.
I am working for apples, Off season vegetables and Exotic vegetables ( we are shipping 5-6 tonns of vegetable during May to October every day, which I think is a huge amount of revenue generated without the help of Agriculture department, in terms of infrastructural.) We have the first shop in Himachal exclusively for  Organic vegetable ( Northharvest Organics) and local produce, supporting PGS groups and farmers with Third party certification,  which is also being exported to New Delhi ,  and Chandigarh.
Despite huge subsidy you hardly see any green house in our area. I personally feel either the scheme is not farmer’s friendly or agriculture official in the field are having conservative approach.
Finally I decided to make some green houses in our hilly land, I approached to the local SMS and discussed my proposed green houses. He out rightly rejected my all proposal by saying that they could not deviate from their guidelines and none of my project falls under the notified structures in length and breadth wise. I want to make a greenhouse of 100 Sq. Meters, but this design is not in the guidelines. You’ll agree that the topography does not allow us to make big structures, moreover land levelling in the hilly area is quite expensive and beyond farmer’s reach.
I am hereby forwarding my application for 7 small greenhouses to you with request to amend the guidelines so that I may construct these Green Houses without wasting my land, and utilising the subsidy.





The Sizes for my greenhouses  are
1              15 x 6 meters   90 Sq Mtrs
2              10 x3.5 meters  35 Sq Mtrs
3              10 x3.5 meters  35 Sq Mtrs
4              20 x 5 meters   100 Sq Mtrs
5              22 x 6 meters   132 Sq Mtrs
6              12 x 7 meters   84 Sq Mtrs
7              29 x 7 meters   203 Sq Mtrs

I know these structures can be built if there is clear cut direction from your end. I neither increase the length for particular structure nor in a position to sacrifice my land to keep without cover.
You will also be surprised to know that your official will not provide any subsidy to a green house measuring 110 Sq. Meters as this structure is not approved in the guidelines .
I feel that agricultural activities shall go on till the humanity vanishes from this earth. So lets don’t think about only this Pt DDKBSY and work for the schemes which are friendly with the farmers and easily adoptable.
With anticipation and farmers favourable action from your end.
Keen to receive reply from your side in the earliest
Regards and best wishes for year 2013.





Vikram Singh Rawat
9418455027
Karsog Valley Farmers Group
Kalasan Nursery Farm, P.O Marothi Tehsil Karsog
District Mandi H.P 175046