Dr.Banarsi Lal, Dr.Shahid Ahamad
Technology development has a critical impact on many aspects of hilly areas development, especially the way we choose it, the way we design it and the way we deliver it to the masses. Technology should be carefully chosen for the farmers of hilly areas to imbibe knowledge appropriate to their needs and environment. Technology should be designed in such a way so that it can upgrade the skills and capabilities, reduce drudgery, minimize fatigue, capable of easy assimilation, generate added value to the existing methods of operation, generate employment, low in capital investment, low in cost of production, be capable of replication and adoption and should blend harmoniously with existing eco-systems leading to tangible improvements in the living conditions and development of the people of hilly areas. There is a need to introduce appropriate technologies in the hilly areas of Jammu and Kashmir particularly in disadvantaged groups. There is a need of institutional linkages and active participation of voluntary organizations, science and technology based institutions, research and development institutions, financial agencies and most importantly people who are the primary stakeholders. Success of these technologies lies on participatory systems with a systematically approach for effective dissemination of technology. There should be proper mechanism in development and transfer of effective technologies in the hilly areas of J&K.
The technologies should be assessed and refined by the science and technology based institutions. These organizations then look for ideal technology option ensuring the availability of local resources and skills. Technology should be developed according to the in-house capability of the local people with the assistance of technical institutions. The technology should be developed in such a way so that it is accepted by the people of hilly areas and which is best suited in their local conditions for a long-term sustainability. The people should be trained for 2-3 years to handle the new technology and also trained in its maintenance and repair. The Science and Technology institutions and NGOs should helps in backward and forward linkages both for production as well as marketing for long-term sustainability. There should be proper linkage between the scientists, field functionaries and the farmers. Extensionists should conduct the awareness camps in the rural areas on new technologies and also special vocational and farmers trainings should be conducted. The awareness on new technologies among the farmers should also be conducted by the print media and electronic media.
Looking into constraints and priority needs of the people of hilly areas of J and K, various thrust areas need special attention ensuring involvement of local community through network of developmental field groups in technological empowerment. Agriculture in hilly areas of J and K is the most important activity as it is directly related with the villager’s sustenance. Agriculture in hilly areas is mostly rain fed, poor crop productivity, poor cultivation practices etc. The interventions in hilly areas of J&K should be viewed as specific as follows:
* Organic Farming: Organic farming has immense potential in hilly areas of J and K. The litter fall in hilly areas can be utilised for compost making. This can highlight unproductive hilly areas contour as organic farm. Organic products produced in hilly areas can help the farmers to fetch better prices. agricultural deptt. and KVKs should promote the organic farming in the hilly areas.
* Off Season Vegetable and Seed Production: In hilly areas of J&K off season vegetables can be grown which can fetch higher prices. Seed production and low cost nurseries units can be made in hilly areas to generate extra income. There is need to introduce new varieties (hybrid/improved) vegetables through Front Line Demonstration by the KVKs.
* Non-perishable Cultivation: The perishable products do not fetch better prices due to various market intricacies. The hilly areas agro-climate J and K offers better potential for non-perishable products such as spices, pulses, oilseeds etc. There is need to introduce new varieties of these crops through Front Line Demonstration by the KVKs.
* Horticulture: Horticulture has lot of scope in hilly areas of J&K. Different varieties of fruit crops can be produced in hilly areas. But the fate of all such produce has been poor due to certain reasons such as: transportation facilities, storage facilities and processing facilities. Horticulture in hilly areas is largely ignored but it has immense potential. Hilly areas farmers of J&K need proper training for horticultural crops. There should be storage, processing and packaging facilities of fruit crops for commercial purpose. Farmers of hilly areas need proper transportation facilities to sale there produce. The roads should be well connected with the cities.
* Animal Husbandry: In hilly areas of J&K scarcity of fodder crops for animals is observed specially in off seasons. There is a need to produce high breeds of animals in hilly areas. Buffalo rearing, poultry farming and goat rearing have lot of scope in hilly areas. The special varieties of fodder crops should be introduced in hilly areas. Backyard poultry has tremendous scope in hilly areas. Egg laying varieties of certain poultry strains should be introduced through Front Line Demonstrations by the KVKs.
* Cover Management: Green cover in hilly areas is very important for the maintenance of environment. The green cover with appropriate bio-engineering plantation management is considered as need based.
* Water Power: Water and energy are important resources for the hilly areas ecosystem. In hilly areas large numbers of dams are in process in but the traditional water mills, huller, carding devices should also be taken into consideration for the up gradation. Strenuous efforts are needed to develop sustainable technologies for harnessing and conserving renewable energy like water lifting devices, solar lantern etc.
* Disaster Management: Capacity building and technological empowerment are needed to mitigate the disaster management challenges for the people of hilly areas of J and K.
* Herbs: Medicinal plants occurring in hilly areas of J and K have a great national and international importance. Creating awareness towards herbal therapy can provide immense scope for developing herbal industries in hilly areas.
* Health Care and Sanitation: Health care of hilly areas people of J and K is an important area that needs to be taken care of. There is need of technology intervention in the area of rural sanitation.
* Tourism: Tourism forms the basis for the economy of many hilly places of J and K. There should be linkage between the people of hilly areas and hill tourism. Rural tourism should be promoted in hilly areas. There is need to create awareness on rural tourism among the farmers.
Bottom up approach for participatory technology development starting with the people and with the contribution of Science and Technology Institutions and close interface with voluntary organisations can provide sustainable models for technology development and transfer. Appropriate networking and linkages amongst people and institutions can change the lives of the people of hilly areas of J and K through technological empowerment and capacity building at the grassroots level.