Shimla: Recognizing the pivotal role of the rural population in Himachal Pradesh’s economy, the State Government has accorded top priority to strengthen the rural economy by promoting natural farming as a cornerstone of inclusive and sustainable growth. Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu after returning from New Delhi today, said that agriculture continues to be the backbone of the State, with nearly 90 percent of the population residing in rural areas and about 53.95 per cent directly dependent on farming and allied activities.
He said that strengthening the rural economy was the foremost priority of the present state government and that for the first time in the history of Himachal Pradesh, a series of bold and decisive steps have been taken to ensure the economic empowerment of farmers and rural households. These include the introduction of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for produce grown through natural farming, the notification of the Universal Carton for apples to protect the interests of horticulturists, targeted subsidy schemes for rural areas and the innovative initiative of purchasing cow dung to provide additional income to farmers. These unprecedented measures aim to maximize benefits for the rural population and pave the way for their self-reliance.
Against this backdrop, the State Government has set an ambitious target of bringing 9.61 lakh farmer families under the ambit of natural farming which reaffirms its strong commitment to transforming the rural economy and securing a sustainable livelihood for farmers across the state.
The Chief Minister stated that a comprehensive framework of farmer-friendly schemes has been introduced to support this transition. As a result, around 2,22,893 farmers and orchardists have already fully or partially adopted natural farming practices on approximately 38,437 hectares across the State. This shift was proving helpful in reducing input costs, improving soil health and enhancing farm incomes in a sustainable manner.
Highlighting a significant milestone, the Chief Minister said that on 15 April 2025, the tribal Pangi sub-division of Chamba district was officially declared a Natural Farming Sub-Division. Besides cultivating traditional crops, local farmers were naturally growing a wide range of medicinal herbs, reflecting the region’s strong commitment to eco-friendly agriculture.
Sukhu noted that Himachal Pradesh has become the first state in the country to fix minimum support prices for produce grown through natural farming. The MSP for naturally grown maize and wheat, earlier fixed at Rs. 30 and Rs. 40 per kilogram, has now been enhanced to Rs. 40 and Rs. 60 respectively. Support prices have also been fixed at Rs. 90 per kilogram for raw turmeric and Rs. 60 per kilogram for barley grown in the Pangi Valley, along with a substantial increase in fruit support prices.
The Chief Minister said that payments were being made directly into farmer’s accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer, ensuring transparency and efficiency. An amount of Rs. one crore has been deposited for the purchase of 399 metric tonnes of naturally grown maize. Additionally, Rs. 1.32 crore has been transferred for procuring 2,123 quintals of wheat, while Rs. 11.44 lakh has been paid for 127 quintals of raw turmeric in six districts.
To strengthen market linkages, natural farming products have been launched under a dedicated brand. Maize flour was being marketed as ‘Him Bhog Makki’, wheat products as ‘Him Chakki Atta’ and ‘Him Daliya’ and raw turmeric as ‘Him Haldi’, providing farmers better market access and recognition.
To encourage wider adoption, the government was providing a subsidy of Rs. 750 per drum, up to three drums per family, for preparing natural farming inputs. Financial assistance of up to Rs. 8,000 per farmer was also being given for improving cowsheds. A subsidy of up to Rs. 25,000 was being provided for purchasing indigenous breed cows.
A new cluster-based initiative, ‘Him Unnati’, was being implemented in a phased manner, under which 2,600 clusters would be identified. The State was also promoting saffron and asafetida cultivation in suitable high-altitude areas of Chamba, Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur.
The Chief Minister said these initiatives reflect the government’s resolve to make Himachal Pradesh self-reliant and prosperous, and steadily move the State towards its goal of becoming one of the leading natural farming state successfully.
