INTRODUCTION
Agriculture is one of the important means of livelihood and occupation of the people of the village. Which contributes the 70% of the village income employing more than 65% of laborforce.

The village has a plain area, while soil and temperature are suitable for agricultural practices with availability of water in the village.

6.2 SPECIAL ASPECT OF AGRICULTURE

a. OWNERSHIP

Hussaini like the rest of the Northern Areas is the home of small farmers distinguishing them from rural areas of Pakistan in peasantry. Almost all the farmers are owner cultivators. Overwhelming majority of households comprise small land possessing about two acres of land each.

b. SINGLE CROPPING

Mostly one cropping season is found in the region. Double crops do not mature due to low temperature. In some year ahead double cropping may be possible.


Nearly every household is engaged in agriculture while some being wholly dependent on supplement, their household income is other means mainly non-farming work.

c. MANURING
Organic manure and chemical fertilizer are used in general. The farmers keep a limited number of animals for organic manure. The organic manure is mixed with soil before cultivation of crops. This is not available to them in sufficient quantity. Urea is mostly used when crops have started to grow, but it is not available to them in sufficient quantity.

CROPS

6.5.a WHEAT

Wheat has remained the staple crop in Hussaini for long time, but now-a-days potato has taken its position. In Zarabod it is also the main crop. It accounts only 10% of the total cropped area in Hussaini. When potato was introduced in the area, the cultivation of wheat is decreasing gradually. Wheat prefers mild temperature and 2" of rainfall. At the time of ripening and harvesting the temperature should be above 570 F. Such type of condition prevails in the area. In Hussaini it is sown in April and is harvested in August.

6.5.b BARLEY

Barley is also cultivated in this area. Its yield is low as compared to wheat. It accounts 35 maund per acre. Now a day it is used as a fodder crop.

6.5.c MAIZE

It is kharif crop in this area. It is sown in May and harvested in October. Maize is primarily a fodder crop.

6.6 FRUITS

Most important fruits grown in this area are apple, apricot, pear, grapes etc. but the production is consumed locally due to inaccessibility to the large market area.

VEGETABLES

Different varieties of vegetable are grown in this village. They are mostly grown in kitchen gardens and consumed locally due to inaccessibility to large market areas of down country. Some vegetables are dried for winter season. Important vegetables are tomato, potato, turnip, peas, cabbage, carrot, radish, onion, and chili.

6.7.a POTATO

Potato is the most important and single cash crop of Hussaini and the entire Hunza Valley. The Aga Khan Rural Support Program (AKRSP) encourages the cultivation of potato in Hunza. Due to this encouragement normally each household has devoted most of their land for potato cultivation. Because of its continuous cultivation for many years, its production is decreasing annually. In potato production and quality Hussaini is one of the important village in Hunza Valley.

HORTICULTURE

This is also an important source of income and includes fruit growing and vegetable production. The environmental factors like soil, climate and water all have contributed their best for making the area suitable for horticulture. Several kinds of fruit trees are planted here. Most important fruit trees grown in the area are apples, apricot, pears, mulberry, etc. their acreage is increasing every year.

In Hussaini every household has his own small or large orchard, previously the farmers did not give much attention to scientific aspects of planting trees. But now a days these orchards are being developed under the guidance of agricultural experts and more than hundreds have been developed on scientific basis. Moreover considerable new area is brought under orchards every year. In view of its grains, obtained from horticulture, the farmers are now giving preference to horticulture as compared to food crops. It is hoped that in future forty to forty five percent of cultivable land will under the fruit trees. In short it has a bright future.

It is worth mentioning that AKRSP has played an important role to promote interest among the farmers for development of horticulture in the region.

6.8.1 PROBLEMS OF HORTICULTURE

Lack of marketing facilities is adversely effecting the tempo of the development.

It is essential that the proper step for marketing facilities should be taken so that the farmers can get real benefit of their labour.

6.9 AGRICULTURE EXTENSION PROGRAM

Agriculture extension program is started on the basis of following points:

To prevent the crops from damages.
To increase the production of crops.
To develop horticulture.
To develop the cultivation of vegetables.
The following steps were taken to improve the above mentioned points.

6.9.1 PROVISION OF SPRAYS

The crops and orchards are sprayed with insecticides to prevent them from all kinds of insects and diseases. Some are sprayed free of cost to make the people aware of its significance.

6.9.2 SPRAY PUMP AT CONCESSION RATE

In the village spray pump full of drugs have been given to them at concession rate they could themselves prevent their crops from damages.

6.9.3 PROVISION OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF WHEAT

Different kinds of wheat were sown on experimental basis for the improvement of per acre yields. The farmers liked the idea and they started growing these new kinds of wheat.

6.9.4 TWO CROPS

Two crops in a year can be grown in half the area of Hussaini, while in other half one crop is grown. After the harvesting of wheat maize and millet can be cultivated. Through this method production has doubled since 1982.

6.9.5 TRAINING

Since AKRSP has become functional in the area, it has trained the people in this field. These experts teach the members of their respective societies that how to graft, trim and spray the plants. The villagers pay their fees per hour for spray and grafting. So that in this way the farmers could become independent of government or some body else's help.

Moreover in the meeting of AKRSP the farmers are interested how to improve the production. AKRSP calls the President and General Manager from each society in three months to the conference to know their problems and then helping them in solving their problems.

6.9.6 PROVISION OF VEGETABLE SEEDS

Similarly vegetable seeds were also distributed among the farmers, so they could grow them and observed the differences between the production of old and the new varieties. Turnip and pears are particularly cultivated for commercial scale. Other vegetables, like bean, radish, and cabbage, also been planted to grow them on a large scale. New kinds of seeds were also introduced.

6.9.7 PROVISION OF NEW KINDS OF APPLES

For improving the quantity of apples new kinds of apples have been imported from France by AKRSP's Agricultural Department. This department provides loans to member of the society for a joint nursery. The department also provides plants for individual gardens.

The engrafted trees of farmers are grafted by new in the supervision of the departments. For grafting good pieces are given by the department.

6.9.8 PROVISION OF OTHER PLANTS

The department (AKRSP) buys plants from government nursery and provides these plants to the societies on the same price. These plants include cherry, almond, walnut etc.

The department has established a nursery on one-acre land for women society in Hussaini named "Hussaini Women Tanzeem". Annually thousands of plants are distributed from these nurseries.

6.9.9 PREVENTION OF CROPS FROM DISEASES AND INSECTS

For the prevention of crops from the disease and insects AKRSP have make arrangements for spray on experimental basis. Beside it also tries to control plant disease by other measures. Now a day fruits like apples, pears and dried fruit are exported in cities down country. This department is also working for improvement of fodder crops. The department also distributing magazines and booklets, so those farmers could know how to look after their crops. They are introduced how to produce more crops with the use of fertilizers, prevention of disease etc.