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The total area occupied by horticultural crops excluding potato in U.P. hills during 1985-86 covered 1.82 lakh ha (1 lakh=100,000). Of this area, fruits account for about 71 per cent of the area. Sub-tropical fruits like mango, citrus, litchi, guava, jackfruit, etc. adapted to lower elevations occupy the largest area (0.54 lakh ha) in the zone. The total production of sub-tropical fruits is about 1.26 lac tons with an average productivity of 23.3 q/ha. Among temperate fruits, apple is the main crop covering about 0.49 lakh ha area. The total apple production in the U.P. hills is about 1.65 lakh tons with an average productivity of 3.38 q/ha. Apple can successfully be grown at mid and high elevations (1700- 2500m) that experience cold climate for at least 3-4 months during winter and are not prone to hail-storms and strong winds. The average productivity of apple is very low as compared to other states of North-West Himalayan region mainly due to critical resource and technological gaps. Other temperate fruits like peach, plum, apricot, pears and cherry are grown on a very limited area (0.32 lakh ha) though there is great potential for their commercial production. The total production of these pome, stone and berry fruits is 0.51 lakh tons with an average productivity of 15.9 q/ha. The area under nuts and dry fruits is confined to only 0.13 lakh ha with an annual production of 0.08 lakh tons and average productivity of 6.1 q/ha. The major production constraints for non-adoption of these crops on commercial basis are their perishable nature, lack of technical knowhow with the growers, poor transportation, storage and communication infrastructure, lack of proper marketing facilities and non-availability of suitable cheap packaging materials. The region also holds good promises for developing herbal pharmaceutical industry owing to abundant medicinal plants. A variety of small scale and cottage industries receive their developmental potential from resources like forests, minerals, livestock, agriculture and horticulture. A 'Money order economy' also prevails in the region due to large-scale migration to the plains for jobs in the Armed Forces, Government or into the Private sector. The industrial sector of the state is insignificant. It is hoped that by development and proper exploitation of its natural resources, Uttarakhand can overcome its economic backwardness. Due to its water resources the state has the capacity to generate many mega watts of power. Presently, it is currently producing some 500 MW of power. There are 17 hydro-electric projects already producing electricity and many ambitious power projects including Tehri Dam are under construction. Livestock The hill farming system is characterised by large numbers of livestock. According to the livestock census of 1978, the numbers were as follows :
Animals are even reared to produce dung for cultivated land. Animal population tends to increase with human population because every land cultivating household attempts to maintain a pair of bullocks for draught purpose, a cow and a buffalo to produce milk and calves for replacement of bullocks. The landless families also try to rear large number of sheep, goats and buffaloes or cows to get cash income and to augment family food supplies. The productivity level of livestock in the hills is low, the main reason being the degraded condition of the grazing land, the storehouse of livestock fodder. The long dry period (14 months) contributes to the poor milk production. This is attributed to unsuccessful insemination and reluctance of farmers to go for it during milking period. The inadequate availability of nutritious fodder and feeds is the other important factor for low milk production. Livestock subsist mainly on forest floor vegetation. Grazing pressure on an average amounts to 5.67 cattle units per ha which is 2.83 times higher than the carrying capacity of the grazing lands. Overgrazing of forest land is one of the reasons for their degradation. Bullocks are the only source of power for agriculture in the hills except, of course, human beings. The power developed during ploughing operation by a pair of bullocks is only half of the reported national average. MigrationA major trend in the livelihood pattern of people of Uttarakhand is the tremendous amount of permanent migration taking place from all the hill Blocks. Seasonal migration was reported to be an integral part of the life of the people of Uttarakhand since ancient times. However, after the 1962 Indo-China war, migration of the Shaukas into Tibet has stopped. A decreasing livestock population has also drastically reduced migration for transhumance. Permanent migration is reported to be negligible. Thus the major type of migration is of a semi-permanent nature which started only after 1920. In recent decades, semi-permanent migration in Uttarakhand has increased after the 1962 Indo-China War after which the number of recruitment centres into the army in Uttarakhand were increased. The better accessibility and communication following the war and an increasing tilt towards commercialisation of the economy in Uttarakhand increased to a large extent the migration for employment into the army. This situation has reached such a state today that it is estimated that out of a total population of 25 lakhs in Kumaon, 1. 27 lakhs persons are employed in the military and paramilitary forces. On an average 1400 people every year join the army, thus 1 out of every 19 households in Kumaon has a person employed in the army. In Pithoragarh this incidence is even higher with 1 out of every 2 households having a person employed in the army and 1 out of every three household having a pensioner. The profile of Garhwal is similar. A study by S.S. Khanka found that the main reason for migration was insufficient income in 92% of the samples studied. Unemployment (6%) and unstable occupation (1% ) were other reasons. It was found that migration occurred mainly due to push factors rather than pull factors. The majority of the migrants are reported to be between 15-35 years of age and largely with formal education. 85% of the sample studied sent money-orders back home, most of which is used for current use. In a large majority of cases the increases in the household income due to migration was found to be more that 5 times. The study reports that the average labour required per hectare of land cultivated was 1. 77 person units. Thus if household labour was in excess to this, the increase in productivity is only marginal. Seasonal migration in Almora was 78% and 98% in Byans area in 1901 (mainly by Shaukas of Byans). However, after a closure of Tibet trade and consequent settling down of the Shaukas, this seasonal migration has almost stopped. The author has worked out that the out migration from Uttarakhand based on 1981 figures is 29. 7%. TourismThe tourism industry is a major contributor to the economy of Uttarakhand, with the Corbett National Park and Tiger Reserve and the nearby hill-stations of Nainital, Mussoorie, Almora and Ranikhet being among the most frequented destinations of India. To this region, long called "abode of the gods" (Devbhoomi), also belong some of the holiest Hindu shrines, and for more than a thousand years, pilgrims have been visiting the 4dham temples at Gangotri, Yamunotri, Badrinath, Kedarnath. In the hope of salvation and purification from sin people also visit Haridwar and Rishikesh where are some of the major spiritual and yoga centers of India. angotri (the source of Ganga) and Yamunotri (source of Yamuna) are revered by many. Besides these most popular pilgrim centres, the state has an abundance of temples and shrines, references to most of which can be found in Hindu scriptures and legends. The architecture of most of these temples is typical of the region and slightly different from other parts of India, the ancient temples at Jageshwar being the most prominent for their distinct architectural features. With great views of the Himalaya, apart from the well known pilgrimages and hill stations, it offers wonderful travel destinations to lesser known places and offers much in adventure activities, like skiing, yachting, trekking and mountaineering. There are excellent ski slopes at Auli, Dayara Bugyal, Mundali and Munsiari. Watersports such as rafting can be tried out on the YamunaAlaknanda, Bhagirathi, Bhilangana, Mandakini and the Mahakali. There is a sailing club at Nainital. The state offers excellent trekking terrain and some of the famous treks take you to the Valley of Flowers and Pindari, Sunderdhunga and Kafni glaciers. The Government of India has awarded the National Tourism Award in the Category of Special Award for Efforts in the Development and Promotion of Tourism to the State Government of Uttarakhand, in 2000. Focused, planned and time bound development of trek routes, yatra routes and adventure sports such as river rafting, paragliding, skiing, mountaineering are planned by the state. The State Government is adopting the master plan approach for development of wayside amenities, new tourist destinations, development of Tehri Dam area as a tourist spot etc. Special emphasis is being accorded to promote cultural tourism and wildlife in the State. 10 year developement PlanDehraDun May 10, 2005. The Uttarakhand government has drawn up an ambitious development plan to be completed over the next ten years, Additional Chief Secretary M Ramachandran today said. Participating at ''Meet the Press'' programme here Mr Ramachandran said for speedy development of this hill state huge funds would be required and the state government had to get in touch with the international funding agencies.He said as the State Government could not approach these agencies without Central clearence, it had submitted a number of development projects to the Central overnment underlining the importance of external funding. The Centre after studying the proposals had given a green signal to the State Government for negotiating with the external funding agencies, he said. Mr Ramachandran said the State Government had approached the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for funding a number of proposals and negotiations were at a final stage and the Memorandum of Understanding was expected to be signed between the ADB and the State Government by August. He said accordingly, the ADM will be providing around 400 million dollars to Uttarakhand Government for a number of development projects, he added. He said the State Government was aiming to electrify all villages in the State by 2007 and all homes by 2009. Apart from this around 150 to 200 Million dollars would be required for the creation of new urban centres in the State. He said to further develop the tourism sector in the State, the government had decided to provide a Helicopter hanger facility at Gochar. This would not only boost tourism in the State but also improve the connectivity, he added. Mr. Ramachandran further said that State Government was holding discussions with varous agencies and departments for the setting up of a 300 M W gas based power plant at Haridwar. This would cater to the needs of the Haridwar based industrial units. Sources
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