Himachal to grow by 7.7 pc in 2015-16

Himachal Pradesh is expected to grow at 7.7 per cent in current 2015-16 year, against 7.5 per cent expansion in the last fiscal, the state economic survey said.
The state is expected to achieve a growth rate of 7.7 per cent during 2015-16 despite a 1.7 per cent fall in the primary sector, the survey tabled in the Assembly today by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh said.
The state economy had grown by 7.5 per cent in 2014-15. The state domestic product at constant prices rose to Rs 89,050 crore in 2014-15 from Rs 82,866 crore in 2013-14.
The increase in gross state domestic product (GSDP) is mainly attributed to 14.6 per cent rise in transport and trade, 13.9 per cent in community and personal services sectors, 6.1 per cent in secondary sector and 11.4 per cent in finance and real estate, the survey said.

However, the primary sector decreased by 1.7 per cent but the foodgrains production, which was 15.85 lakh MT during 2013-14, has increased to 16.74 lakh MT during 2014-15.
Foodgrain production is expected marginally low at 16.19 lakh MT in 2015-16, the survey said.

The fruit production has decreased by 13.2 per cent from 8.66 lakh MT in 2013-14 to 7.52 lakh MT in 2014-15. It, however, increased to 8.19 lakh MT during 2015-16 (up to December, 2015).
The economy has shown a shift from agriculture sector to industries and services as the percentage contribution of agriculture and allied sectors in GSDP has declined to 10.4 percent in 2014-15 from 26.5 per cent in 1990-91.

The share of industries and services sectors has increased to 24.8 per cent and 43 per cent, respectively, in 2014-15, from 94. Per cent and 19.8 per cent in 1990-91.
However, the declining share of agriculture sector did not affect its importance in the state economy as the growth is still being determined by the trend in agriculture and horticulture production.
Growing of off-season vegetables has also picked up in the state and vegetable production was 15.76 lakh MT during 2014-15 against 14.66 lakh tonnes in 2013-14.
Tourist arrival also showed upward trend and increased from 163.15 lakh to 175.31 lakh in 2015 while the number of foreign tourists rose from 3.90 lakh to 4.06 lakh during 2015.

The consolidated number of unemployed persons on Live Registers of all employment exchanges stood at 8,08,767 on December 31,2015.