Himachal Pradesh initiates special campaign for natural farming registration

The Himachal Pradesh government has launched a month-long campaign to register farmers practicing natural farming. The initiative is designed to promote natural farming and enhance farmers’ income

The Himachal Pradesh government has launched a special one-month drive aimed at registering farmers who are engaged in natural farming, with a focus on promoting environmentally sustainable agricultural practices and enhancing the income of farmers. The registration campaign, which kicked off on Thursday, will continue until June 15. This initiative is a part of the state government’s ongoing efforts to boost the adoption of natural farming techniques, which are free from chemical inputs, and to support farmers in their transition to more sustainable practices.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has personally instructed the state’s agriculture department to carry out the registration process across each assembly constituency in a mission-mode approach. This initiative is aimed at ensuring maximum participation from farmers. To facilitate the process, the agriculture department will set up registration camps at various locations for farmers interested in enrolling in the natural farming program. Additionally, block-level officers will be assigned to assist farmers, answering their questions and addressing any concerns regarding the registration process.

In a move to further support natural farming, Chief Minister Sukhu has also announced an attractive set of Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for naturally grown crops. This includes a significant increase in the MSP for naturally grown wheat, maize, raw turmeric, and barley. Specifically, the MSP for naturally grown wheat has been raised from Rs 40 to Rs 60 per kilogram, maize from Rs 30 to Rs 40 per kilogram, raw turmeric at Rs 90 per kilogram, and barley grown in the Pangi block of Chamba district will now be bought at Rs 60 per kilogram.

These MSP increases aim to incentivize farmers to adopt natural farming practices by providing them with better financial returns for their efforts. This move is seen as part of the state government’s broader strategy to make natural farming more economically viable for farmers, while also ensuring the sustainability of agriculture in Himachal Pradesh.

In addition to the registration drive, the state government began purchasing wheat and turmeric produced using natural farming techniques across the state on Thursday. This procurement will help to provide a guaranteed market for naturally grown produce, further encouraging farmers to adopt eco-friendly farming methods.

Overall, the Himachal Pradesh government’s initiative reflects a significant commitment to sustainable agriculture and the well-being of farmers. By promoting natural farming and offering better financial support, the state is taking steps to ensure that its agricultural practices are both environmentally friendly and economically rewarding for its farming community