Department of Social SciencesCollege of Forestry Nauni Solan (HP)

Dr Subhash Sharma
Associate Professor & Head

Department of Social Sciences, erstwhile Department of Economics, Sociology and Extension Education became a full-fledged Department in the year 1987 vide Notification No.5-112/87(GAD)/-800/-150 dated 13/11/1987. The nomenclature of the Department was changed to Department of Social Sciences vide Notification No. 5-1/92(26)(GAD)/-22469-505 dated 12.11.1992. Prior to it, the Department was a minor Department of the Department of Agricultural Economics, HPKV, Palampur. The Department started the Doctoral programme in the field of Agricultural Economics from the academic session 1990-91. The Department is engaged in teaching the courses at the undergraduate and post-graduate level. The Department started MBA (Agribusiness) programme in the year 1997-98. Later in the year 2006-07 a separate Department of Business Management (Agri-business) was carved out from the Department of Social Sciences.

Department also works with constituent colleges of the University at Neri and Thunag, as well as Regional Research Stations at Mashobra, Sharbo, Bajaura, Jachh, and Dhaulakuan, to conduct need-based research on horticultural problems in the region.

Department, since its inception received research funding in more than 36 ad-hoc research projects related to Agricultural Production/ Farm Management, Agricultural Marketing, Agricultural Finance and Natural Resource Economics.

Mandate

Train manpower with specialization in the field of Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics through resident instructions at undergraduate and postgraduate degree level.
Conduct research on in the area of Agricultural Production, Marketing, Finance and Natural Resources Economics and policy.
To impart Trainings to the Growers and Extension personnel of Line Department of Agriculture and other development departments.

Strengths

Well-furnished classroom and computer lab available in the department.
Accessibility of Statistical Programs.

Academics

The department offers degree programmes for:

M. Sc (Agricultural Economics)
Ph. D (Agricultural Economics)
M.Sc (Agricultural Extension Education)

Click here for course details

Achievements

Madhulika Thakur (F-22-03-D) has qualified UGC-NET in December 2023.
Niyati Thakur (F-2020-05-D), Shubham (F-2021-06-D) and Monika Sharma (F-2021-05-M) qualified UGC-NET.
Shubham (F-2021-06-D) qualified UGC-JRF.
Ashish Kumar (F-2020-03-M) and Monika Sharma (F-2021-05-M) qualified ICAR- Senior Research Fellowship Examination.
Monika Sharma (F-2021-05-M) qualified ICAR- NET.
Twenty two students joined services in Govt. and private organisation.
Dr Pardeep Singh got ‘NABARD Award for Outstanding Doctoral Thesis 2021’ by NABARD, Department of Economic Analysis & Research.
Four students (Mr Sanjeev Kumar, Ms Niyati Thakur, Mr Divyanshu and Ms Arushi Mandial) received ICSSR- fellowshipsduring Doctoral programme.
One student (Niyati Thakur) qualified UGC-NET.

Research

Thrust Areas

Farm management and production economics
Agricultural marketing and price policy
Agricultural finance and cooperation
Natural Resource Economics

Major Ongoing Research Projects

Cost of cultivation of selected fruit crops viz. Pear, Cherry, Plum, Kiwi, Pomegranate, Guava and Sweet Oranges of Himachal Pradesh.
Economic analysis polyhouse grown vegetables and millet cultivation in Himachal Pradesh.
Cost of cultivation of selected fruit crops viz. Apple (High Density & Standard) Mango & Citrus fruits of Himachal Pradesh.

Achievements

Study entitled “Economic analysis of dairy farming in Himachal Pradesh” revealed that the population of indigenous cattle and buffaloes declined at 4.6 and 1.2 per cent respectively, whereas crossbreed cattle increased at 3.4 per cent during 2003 to 2017 in the state.
The economic assessment of resource use productivity in mushroom farming in Himachal Pradesh revealed that the mushroom farming contributed 34.78 percent share in the total farm income of the cultivators. Cost of cultivation of white button mushroom per hundred bag basis was found to be Rs. 19457.83 while for oyster mushroom it was found to be Rs. 14323.64. The net return per hundred bags were estimated to be Rs. 16440.39 and Rs. 10443.77. The output- input ratios were observed to be 1.84 and 1.73.
Technical efficiency of the apple cultivation was calculated in different agro-climatic zones of Himachal Pradesh. The overall mean technical efficiency for all agro-climatic zones were found to be highest (88.64%) in age group 17-26 years followed by 27-35 years, 12-16 years, 7-11 years and >35 years, whereas the mean technical efficiency within the zones was higher in zone-III followed by zone-IV and zone-II. Therefore, study recommended that zone-IV and zone-II need to increase its technical efficiency through the cultivation of improved varieties, high density plantation, moisture conservation techniques and rainwater harvesting techniques in the study areas.
A study entitled “An economic analysis of vulnerability and impact of climate change on agriculture in Himachal Pradesh” revealed thatrise in maximum temperature has a significant negative effect on gross income from agriculture.
“Economic impact of climate change and vulnerability on horticulture in temperate region of Himachal Pradesh” was also carried out which indicated that the potato was most susceptible crop to changing climatic pattern in low vulnerable zone (Mashobra), whereas, pea was most affected vegetable crop in moderate and high vulnerable zone (Pooh) of temperate region for the year 2019-2020.
The studies on economic analysis of natural farming in Kullu and Shimla district revealed that the crop equivalent yield and the relative economic efficiency was higher in all the crop combinations under natural farming over conventional farming.

Extension

Assisting in various training programmes assigned by Directorate of Extension Education from time to time. Large number of extension lectures are delivered in various training programme/ workshops/ conferences/ symposia etc. organized by the Directorate of Extension Education and other departments of the university by the faculty of the department in their areas of specialization.

Achievements

Six training were conducted on Natural farming in the districts of Solan, Shimla and Sirmaur.
The scientists have delivered more than 20 lectures to the farmers, HEO’s, AEO’s, HDO’s and ADO’s on natural farming and marketing aspects of different crops.

Awards/Recognitions

Madhulika Thakur (F-2022-03-D) received 1st Best Poster Presentation Award in the International Conference on “Enabling Sustainable Food Systems through Natural Farming”on the topic “Economic analysis of Natural Farming in Shimla and Kullu districts of Himachal Pradesh” organized by the Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry Nauni-Solan (HP), India from 13th to 14th Sept. 2024.
Riya Thakur (F-2021-04-D) received 1st Best Poster Presentation Award and Rohit Vashisht (F-2021-05-D) was awarded with 2nd Best Poster Presentation Award in National Conference on “Natural and organic farming for ecological, economical and nutritional security” organized by the Department of Organic Agriculture and Natural Farming, CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur from 7th to 9th June 2023.
Ishita Mandla received Third Prize in oral presentation on “Economic analysis of production and marketing of major vegetable crops in Kullu valley of Himachal Pradesh” in International Conference on “Climate Resilient Agriculture for Food Security and Sustainability” at CCSHAU, Hisar, Haryana in February, 2023.

Ishita Mandla received Best Article Award for the article “Need and Importance of Universal Basic Income in Covid 19 Pandemic” by the Agriculture & e-Newsletter in October, 2022.

Shubham (F-2021-06-D) received Best Poster Award in 4^th National Conference on “Pluralistic Approaches for livestock development an extension call” organized by Society for Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Extension in the DGCN College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences CSKHPKV Palampur (H.P) on May 06-08, 2022.

Facilities

Well-furnished classroom and computer lab available in the department.

Accessibility of Statistical Programs

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