In a significant move to revolutionize agriculture in Himachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu underscored the critical need to promote natural farming throughout the state. During a high-level meeting with the Agriculture Department held today, the Chief Minister called for a unified and robust approach to encourage farmers to adopt natural farming techniques, emphasizing the transformative impact this shift can have on the sector.
Shri Sukhu directed all officials from the Agriculture Department, along with representatives from JICA and ATMA, to intensify their outreach efforts to farmers, offering hands-on support and facilitating the certification process for natural farming practices. He stressed the importance of organizing panchayat-level camps aimed at registering farmers under natural farming schemes, ensuring grassroots engagement and accountability at every administrative tier to secure measurable progress.
Recognizing the pivotal role of Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) Chairpersons, the Chief Minister urged them to actively motivate and assist farmers in transitioning towards natural farming. He also highlighted the need for APMCs to establish advanced storage silos dedicated to procuring naturally grown crops such as wheat, maize, and raw turmeric. The state government has already begun procurement of naturally cultivated wheat, offering farmers a Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs. 60 per kilogram, signaling strong government commitment to incentivize eco-friendly agriculture. In addition, he instructed the Agriculture Department to ensure the supply of high-quality seeds to farmers engaged in these sustainable farming methods.
To further bolster natural farming, the Chief Minister pointed to the development of three model farms by the Agriculture Department in strategic locations—Bhattoo in Kangra district, Bhagani in Sirmaur district, and Bairtee-Boch in Solan district. These farms serve as benchmarks for best practices and innovation, with plans to establish more such centers to inspire and educate farmers statewide.
Shri Sukhu also took a detailed review of ongoing projects involving the construction of Controlled Atmosphere (CA) storage facilities. Highlighting their importance, he remarked that CA stores are essential to ensuring that farmers and horticulturists receive fair remuneration by preserving their produce for better market prices. The state government is rolling out these stores in phases across multiple locations, including Sundernagar in Mandi district; Annu (Jubbal), Chopal, Sundasu, Kharapathar, Duttnagar, and Dhalli in Shimla district; Kandrouri and Sulah in Kangra district; Jabli in Solan district; and Bhawanagar in Kinnaur district. The government has earmarked a substantial budget of Rs. 330 crore for this purpose, underscoring its commitment to agricultural infrastructure development.
Additionally, the Chief Minister reviewed the ongoing JICA project, which spans all 12 districts of Himachal Pradesh with an investment of Rs. 1010 crore. He emphasized the need to maximize the benefits of this initiative for farmers, urging officials to ensure effective implementation. Various projects under the Himachal Pradesh Agriculture Marketing Board also came under his scrutiny, and he provided necessary directives to streamline and enhance their impact.
Agriculture Minister Prof. Chander Kumar, MLA Chander Shekhar, Secretary of Agriculture C. Paulrasu, Director Kumud Singh, and Chairpersons of different APMCs were present, demonstrating the government’s collective focus on agricultural progress.
With these efforts, the Himachal Pradesh government aims to usher in an era of sustainable agriculture that prioritizes eco-friendly practices, farmer welfare, and market efficiency—laying the groundwork for a stronger rural economy and food security.
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