Uttarakhand Mahak Kranti Niti

About 'Uttarakhand Mahak Kranti Niti'

Uttarakhand facing several challenges in traditional agriculture, such as damage caused by wild animals, rainfed farming, problems related to steep slopes, excessive distance between villages and agricultural fields, land erosion, and other constraints. As a result, many farmers are abandoning agriculture and migrating elsewhere in search of livelihood opportunities.

In view of the suitability of aromatic crops in the State and their increasing adoption, there is a need to formulate a comprehensive policy encompassing all related aspects so that aromatic farming can be established as a revolution in Uttarakhand. To promote large scale cultivation of aromatic crops in the state, The Government of Uttarakhand has launched 'Uttarakhand Mahak Kranti Niti' which will be implemented by Centre for Aromatic Plants, Selquai. The objective of this Policy is to promote the production of selected aromatic crops in the State and enhance farmers’ income through this policy by strengthening the entire value chain.

The 'Uttarakhand Mahak Kranti Niti' aims:

• To expand the aromatic crop sector by development of 7 Aroma Valleys & 6 Satellite Centres across districts in Uttarakhand.
• Coverage target of approximately 22,750 hectares under aromatic crops in the first phase.
• Promotion of high-value crops and best practices to boost farmers’ income, benefiting over 91,000 farmers.
• Bulk production of aromatic produce.
• The policy offers substantial subsidies on nursery development, setup costs, processing, branding, and packaging, making it easier for farmers and entrepreneurs to engage in the sector.

Subsidy Pattern:

a. Cultivation:

• 80% on setup cost to farmers cultivating up to 1 ha
• 50% on setup cost to farmers cultivating more than 1 ha
• Cooperative societies, self-help groups, and companies can cultivate up to 30 acres, but subsidy will be provided only up to a maximum of 10 acres at the rate of 50%.

b. Nursery development: 50% on establishment cost of INR 30 lakh per hectare.

c. Processing and value addition: 80% on establishment cost of INR 15 lakh per unit.

d. Packaging and branding: 80% on packaging and branding cost of up to INR 25,000.

Selected Districts and Aroma Valleys:

Name of Valley	District Covered	Area (Ha)
Damask Rose Valley	Chamoli & Almora	2000
Timru Valley	Pithoragarh	5150
Mint Valley	Udham Singh Nagar and Haridwar	8000
Cinnamon Valley	Champawat & Nainital	5200
Lemongrass Valley	Haridwar, Dehradun & Pauri	2400
Total		22750

Satellite Centres :

6 Crop Specific Satellite centres are being established for providing door step facilities to farmers and entrepreneursand to support development of Aroma Valleys

S.No	Major Crops	Location
1	Cinnamon	Champawat
2	Timru	Pithoragarh
3	Damask Rose and Timru	Uttarkashi
4	Damask Rose	Chamoli
5	Damask Rose	Almora
6	Aromatic Grasses	Dehradun

Facilities Provided at Satellite Centres:

• Training
• Hi Tech Nursery for Quality Planting Material,
• Processing Facilities
• Marketing

Benefits from 'Uttarakhand Mahak Kranti Niti'

Economic benefits –

• Turnover of aromatic crops is expected to grow from approximately INR 100 Cr to INR 1,709 Cr in the next 10–11 years.
• Benefiting 91,000 farmers.
• Creation of more than 2.2 crore mandays.

Social Benefits

• New employment opportunities will be created through aroma cultivation on a large scale, and local youth will get employment. This will help in reducing migration in the state.
• In the hilly areas of Uttarakhand, where farmers are abandoning farming due to wild animals and non-irrigated farming, aromatic crop cultivation will provide a new alternative.

Environmental Benefits

• Cultivation of aromatic crops helps reduce environmental impacts caused by greenhouse gas emissions and supports carbon sequestration.
• The extensive root systems of aromatic crops hold the soil firmly, and their spreading canopy helps prevent soil erosion and surface runoff.

Industrial Benefits

• Currently, cinnamon and timur are largely imported. Import substitution will help save foreign exchange.
• More than 450 small-scale industries related to processing and distillation plants will be established at the local level.