Shimla: Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu directed the Agriculture Department to link detailed data of farmers, practicing natural farming, with the Him Parivar Portal by 20 January 2026 so that a block-level database of such farmers could be prepared and mapped accordingly. He was presiding over the meeting of Agriculture Department here today.
The Chief Minister said that youth would be encouraged to adopt natural farming to strengthen the rural economy. He said that by promoting this method of farming across the state would boost and strengthen the economy of the farmers. He said that the state government was working to bring revolutionary changes in the natural farming-based system, adding that he will interact with farmers associated with natural farming at a conference to be held this month in Hamirpur.
Sukhu reviewed various issues of the farmers related to wheat, maize and raw turmeric produced through natural farming. He said that wheat flour produced through natural farming was being marketed under the brand ‘Him Chakki Atta’, maize flour as ‘Him Bhog Makki Atta’ and raw turmeric as ‘Him Haldi’. He directed that expiry date and nutritional present in these products should be clearly displayed on the flour packets and also instructed for the formation of a special unit to assess nutritional content.
The Chief Minister said that 606.8 metric tonnes of naturally grown maize have been procured and Rs. 2.31 crore has been transferred directly to bank accounts of the farmer’s. Similarly, 2,123 quintals of naturally grown wheat have been procured at the Minimum Support Price, and 1.32 lakh has been transferred to farmers through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
Encouraging results were being seen by providing a support price of Rs. 90 per kg for naturally grown raw turmeric, he said adding that procurement of around 2,422 quintals of turmeric from 1,629 farmers was estimated this year. He added that the Agriculture Department is producing various crops using natural farming methods on its 25 farms across the state.
The Chief Minister emphasized ensuring better marketing of natural farming products as well. Agriculture Minister Prof. Chander Kumar gave valuable suggestions during the meeting. Principal Advisor to the Chief Minister Ram Subhag Singh, Advocate General Anup Rattan, Secretary to the Chief Minister Rakesh Kanwar, Secretaries C. Palrasu and Ashish Singhmar, Director DDTG Dr. Nipun Jindal, Director Agriculture Ravinder Singh Jasrotia, Director Horticulture Vinay Singh and other senior officers were present in the meeting.
