Chander Shekhar Sharma | Hamirpur The Mid-Himalayan Watershed Project has caused the Himachal Pradesh gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate to shoot upto 9 per cent. The watershed project has been launched in the State by the World Bank. A recently released report on the implementation of Mid-Himalayan development project reflects encouraging picture of rural agro-economic order of Himachal after successful implementation of the project. The report says that due to encouraging results of Mid- Himalayan watershed project, about five per cent of BPL families were alleviated to APL category as project was proved instrumental in increasing this household income. Himachal Pradesh which had only 16 per cent of total cultivated land under irrigation has brought about 1,724 hectares of additional area under irrigation by raising about 6,000 mini and micro irrigations scheme in Himachal Pradesh benefiting as many as 20.795 households under the programme. The report further adds that under the project that falls in ten districts of Himachal Pradesh--Solan, Sirmour, Bilaspur, Chamba, Hamirpur, Kangra, Kinnaur, Mandi, Una, Shimla and Sirmour, the project high economic value crops registered an increase of 26 per cent. Similarly, there has been an increase of fruit production by 11 per cent as massive plantation project is underway in the State targeting about 8,119 hectare. The project contributes to the agro-climatic suitable condition by raising protecting walls around the flood streams causing huge loss to the standing crop.