SHIMLA : To improve the livelihoods of Graziers and to strengthen the rural economy of the State, the State Government has given its nod to Himachal Pradesh Grazing Policy, 2026 by reforming pastoral governance to align with ecological resilience and economic empowerment. Driven by the vision of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, this landmark policy shifts the state away from rigid, static restrictions and introduces a dynamic, science-based approach that views responsible grazing as a tool to sustain grassland productivity, enhance soil carbon stocks and preserve biodiversity.
Under the Policy the Forest Department, in close coordination with the Department of Animal Husbandry, would develop a comprehensive database portal where graziers would register their names, addresses, livestock counts, traditional routes and halting grounds within the next six months. This system bridges an ancient way of life with modern governance by linking every profile to Aadhaar, Him Pariwar and the central Bharat Pashudhan portal to seamlessly verify user data. Crucially, the policy acknowledges the generations of pastoralists who have operated without formal permits; these individuals can now register their details, allowing local grazing advisory committees to systematically evaluate their status and issue new permits based on fair, codified legal procedures.
The allocation of these new grazing rights would follow a meticulous scientific process rather than administrative guesswork. Future permits would be granted after evaluating pasture availability, forest carrying capacity, the needs of dependent wildlife species and the customary grazing rights of local populations. To ensure the long-term regeneration of the state’s forest compartments, the policy introduces structured rotational grazing. Decisions would be decentralized through localized grazing advisory committees comprises of migratory and local graziers, panchayat representatives and experts from universities and the Wool Federation. Meeting under the chairmanship of the Conservator of Forests and District Forest Officers, these bodies would review permits every five years based on highly adaptable, seasonal metrics of ecological availability, eliminating previous jurisdictional confusion across forest divisions.
Under the policy, unused permits held by absentee individuals would be canceled following thorough field inquiries, and the newly available livestock capacity would be reallocated directly to active, dependent pastoralists through local Gram Sabhas. Furthermore, the traditional hired herders, known as Pohals, would be officially mainstreamed and recognized within the state portal to guarantee their safety and business security. To protect this heritage from modern infrastructure encroachment, the policy mandates the explicit preservation of traditional migratory routes, watering points and halting grounds. All traditional corridors would be geo-tagged under a specialized thematic mapping project and plantations older than seven years would finally be opened for controlled grazing, ensuring that Himachal’s rich pastoral identity thrives alongside environmental conservation.
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has said, ‘Grazing Policy 2026 reflects our commitment to ‘Hariyali bhi, Khushhali bhi’. It protects our pastoral traditions and secures the future of livestock-dependent families. He emphasized that the policy strikes a balance between environmental conservation and rural prosperity, laying the foundation for a more inclusive, sustainable and resilient pastoral economy in the state.
