Economy of District Kangra | HPPSC HPAS Preparation - HPPSC HPAS (Himachal Pardesh) PDF Download

Kangra, a district in Himachal Pradesh, is known for its rich cultural heritage, diverse industries, and picturesque landscapes. The district is significant in various sectors such as tea cultivation, sericulture, apiculture, animal husbandry, and fisheries. Additionally, it boasts unique traditional crafts and historical landmarks, making it a noteworthy region in the state.

Tea Plantation in District Kangra

Historical Development

• In 1849, Jameson conducted a survey of Kangra Valley in Himachal Pradesh and deemed it suitable for tea cultivation.
• He introduced China tea plants to Kangra, and these were planted in gardens at Kangra, Nagrota, and Bhawarna.

Impact of Natural Calamities

• A severe earthquake in 1905 devastated the Kangra Valley, forcing tea planters to relocate to Assam.
• Consequently, tea from Kangra was replaced by Assam tea in international markets.

Current Tea Production

• Both Green tea and Black tea are produced in Kangra.
• In 1939, a tea farm was established in Palampur.
• A tea processing factory was set up in Bir, located in the Baijnath Sub-division.
• The Tea Plantation Supply and Marketing Cooperative Industrial Society was founded in Palampur.
• Kangra Tea was awarded a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2005.

Educational and Agricultural Institutions

• Chaudhary Sarvan Kumar Agriculture University was established in Palampur in 1978.
• A Fruit Farm was set up in Palampur in 1936.

Sericulture in District Kangra

Silkworm Races

• The district rears Uniboltine silkworm races, which are considered superior to the Multiboltine races found elsewhere in India.

Silk Production Facilities

• A basic silk seed station for foreign species operates in Nagrota.
• Additional sericulture farms are located in Palampur and Shahpur.
• A silk filature operates in Bodh, within the Nurpur Tehsil.
• The district has five private-sector silk yarn reeling units.

Apiculture in District Kangra

• Bee Farming: A government-operated bee farm was established in Nagrota in 1936.

Animal Husbandry in District Kangra

Breeding Programs

• The state focuses on the pure breeding of Soviet Marino and American Rambouillet sheep due to their popularity.
• Poultry breeding includes improved breeds such as White Leghorns, Rhode Island Red, and White Plymouth Rock.

Milk Production

• A Milk Supply scheme was introduced in the district.
• Milk chilling centers are located in Darkota, Kotla, Jalari, and Dagwar.

Rabbit Farming

• An Angora rabbit farm is in operation at Kandwari, Kangra.

Fisheries in District Kangra

Fish Farming

• The Punjab government established a fish farm at Kangra in 1962-63, which was remodeled in 1980.
• Mirror Carp Spawns are imported from Calcutta and raised in this farm.

Pong Dam Reservoir

• The Pong Dam reservoir is renowned for having the highest sale price value of fish catch in the country.

Crafts and Industries

Dhoop Making

• Dhoop-making industries are located in Jawalamukhi and Kangra.

Clay Dolls

• Kangra clay dolls have a long history dating back to the time of Akbar, who was an admirer of these traditional crafts.
• Ranjit Singh supported and honored clay doll artists.
• Local festivals and fairs often feature sacrifices of clay dolls, showcasing their cultural significance.

Cultural and Historical Significance

Tribal Groups

• The Gaddi and Gujjars are the prominent tribal groups in Kangra.

Mineral Resources

• The Dharamkot area has limestone deposits.
• Slate deposits are found in Khaniara, Kharli, Bhagsu, and north of Yol Camp.
• Natural gas is discovered in Jawalamukhi.

Historical Sites

• The earliest rock inscriptions were discovered at Pathiar and Kanihara.
• Buddhist remains, including a Stupa 270 meters in circumference, were found at Chari and Chetru.
• Baijnath, also known as Kiragrama or Paapnagri, is a notable historical site.

Capital City Dharmshala

Historical Development

• Dharmshala was established in 1849 and became the headquarters of Kangra District in 1855.
• In 1959, it became the headquarters of the Tibetan Government in exile, led by the Dalai Lama, following the arrival of Tibetan refugees.

Cultural and Religious Significance

• A Gompa in Dharmshala houses a 1500-year-old idol of Guru Padam-Sambhav and a life-size image of Avalokiteshvara.
• A collection of 225 volumes of Lord Buddha’s teachings, called ‘Thangyur’ in Tibetan, is housed in a local temple.
• The Tibetan Institute of Performing Art (TIPA) was established in 1959 and hosts an annual Opera festival called Shotou.

District Highlights from the 2011 Census

Village Count

• Kangra district has the highest number of villages (3,869) among the 12 districts in Himachal Pradesh.

Population and Density

• It ranks first in terms of population and second in sex ratio, with 1,012 females per 1,000 males.
• The district is first in the state for its working force, with 675,170 workers.
• It stands fifth in terms of decadal population growth (12.8%) and in population density (263 persons per sq. km).

Literacy and Scheduled Tribes

• Kangra district is first in literacy, with 1,152,640 literate persons.
• It holds the second position for scheduled tribe population, reporting 84,564 persons.

Agriculture and Infrastructure

• The economy is heavily reliant on agriculture, with 303,007 persons engaged in cultivation.
• All inhabited villages have access to electricity and potable drinking water.

Tourism

• The district is known for its tourist attractions such as Dharamsala, Kangra, Palampur, Baijnath, Jawalamukhi, and Masroor.
• McLeodganj, in Dharamsala, has gained international fame as the residence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama since 1966.

Educational Institutions

• The Central University of Himachal Pradesh was established in Dharamsala on March 20, 2009, under the Central University Act 2009.