CM Sukhu Emphasizes Natural Farming for Agricultural Transformation in Himachal Pradesh.
Shimla:
In a decisive move to revamp Himachal Pradesh’s agriculture sector, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu stressed the urgent need to promote natural farming across the state. Chairing a high-level meeting of the Agriculture Department on Friday, the Chief Minister called for concrete and coordinated efforts to make natural farming a cornerstone of the state’s agricultural transformation.
CM Sukhu instructed all officials from the Agriculture Department, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) to provide robust handholding to farmers embracing natural farming. He also emphasized the importance of facilitating certification for naturally grown produce and mandated the organization of panchayat-wise camps to encourage farmer registration under the initiative.
“To achieve tangible outcomes, accountability must be fixed at every level,” said the Chief Minister, urging Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) Chairpersons to actively assist and motivate farmers in adopting sustainable farming practices.
In a significant step to support the market ecosystem, CM Sukhu announced the setting up of high-end silos for the procurement of naturally grown wheat, maize, and raw turmeric through APMCs. The procurement of naturally grown wheat has already begun, with the state government offering a Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs. 60 per kg. He also instructed the department to ensure supply of high-quality seeds to farmers practicing natural farming.
Highlighting model efforts, the Chief Minister revealed the development of three model government farms in Bhattoo (Kangra), Bhagani (Sirmaur), and Bairtee-Boch (Solan), with plans to establish more in the near future.
CM Sukhu also reviewed the progress of Cold Atmosphere (CA) storage projects across the state, which he said were vital in helping farmers and horticulturists receive fair prices. These CA stores are being constructed in Sundernagar (Mandi), Annu (Jubbal), Chopal, Sundasu, Kharapathar, Duttnagar and Dhalli (Shimla), Kandrouri and Sulah (Kangra), Jabli (Solan), and Bhawanagar (Kinnaur), backed by a budget allocation of Rs. 330 crore.
The Rs. 1010 crore JICA-funded project, covering all 12 districts, also came under review, with directions to ensure that its benefits percolate to the grassroots. Ongoing projects under the Himachal Pradesh Agriculture Marketing Board were also discussed, with CM Sukhu issuing necessary directives for efficient implementation.
Agriculture Minister Prof. Chander Kumar, MLA Chander Shekhar, Secretary (Agriculture) C. Paulrasu, Director Kumud Singh, and various APMC Chairpersons were present at the meeting.
The Chief Minister’s push for natural farming marks a significant policy shift aimed at sustainable agriculture, increased farmer income, and long-term environmental benefits for the hill state.
