District Level Contingency Plans for Weather Aberrations in Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

Biological world grows, performs and prospers while enjoying a suitable natural combination of environmental parameters. For the best performance of plants or animals, their phenophases must undergo congenial environmental conditions (of rainfall, temperature and radiation regime) during their life cycles. Monsoon and winter rains provide a bi-modal rainfall and temperature regimes of varying magnitudes, an ideal combination of physical environment for raising different crops and wealth of animal species in the state of Himachal Pradesh. Delay in normal onset and progress of rains by 2 weeks and more (4 and 6 weeks) disrupt the physical environment and natural appearance of different phenophases of both crops and animals, consequently shorter/longer life cycles (with intervening shorter/longer phenophases) has great bearing on their performance. At present, there is little information available on weather based performance of different components of agriculture in general and crops and animals in particular. Fragments of such valuable information has been collated in this manuscript after long hard work carried out under series of workshops, discussions and interaction sessions held at Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Hyderabad, Directorate of Farming System Research, Modipuram, Central Soil and Water Conservation Research and Training Institute, Dehradun and CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur The present attempt was made with a view to suggest alternative management options (contingency plans) for the benefit of extension workers, farmers and policy makers. It is hoped that all stakeholders shall find this document extremely useful for arriving at practical and suitable options during weather aberrations of different durations. Districts being the administrative units, the first draft of District level Contingency Plans (DLCPs) for eight districts viz., Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Una, Kangra, Kullu, Sirmaur, Mandi and Lahaul & Spiti have been prepared and the responsibility for remaining four districts is with Y S Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry, Solan. Since with advancements in agriculture, development of natural resources, improvements in farm and seed production technologies, market forces vis-a-vis changing pattern of rains and temperature regimes, the management options also change hence, there is a dire need to improve/ update these DLCPs regularly in future. Bringing out of this manuscript presents a unique synthesis of coordinated Research and Extension activities in CSK HPKV. I congratulate Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Sr. Agrometeorologist and Nodal officer DLCPs and his team for this maiden attempt and praise worthy effort.