Himachal Agriculture Minister Inaugurates Rs. 1.73 Crore Sub-Vegetable Market in Nachan; Thousands of Farmers to Benefit. 

Shimla:

Himachal Pradesh’s Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Minister Chander Kumar inaugurated a newly constructed sub-vegetable market at Jachh, located in the remote region of Nachan Assembly Constituency, with an investment of approximately Rs. 1.73 crore. The facility is expected to significantly benefit thousands of farmers and horticulturists from nine surrounding Gram Panchayats by providing accessible and cost-effective marketing avenues for their produce.

Key Features of the Sub-Vegetable Market:

The new facility includes:

• 8 Shops
• One Auction Platform
• Two Rooms for Farmers’ Rest House
• Canteen, Dormitory, and Staff Quarters

Farmers from Jachh, Jhungi, Gharot, Katachi, Charkhadi, Paresi, Mashogal, Badhu, and Bahi-Sarhi will now be able to market their agricultural produce locally, eliminating the need for costly transportation to distant markets. This initiative is expected to ensure better prices for farm produce and reduce logistical expenses for rural producers.

Commitment to Agricultural Growth:

Speaking at the event, Minister Chander Kumar highlighted the government’s commitment to strengthening the rural economy through agriculture. Drawing inspiration from former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s Green Revolution, he emphasized that the current government under Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu is advancing similar goals of self-sufficiency and farmer prosperity.

He noted several farmer-centric policies implemented over the past two years:

• Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Milk:
  • Cow milk: Rs. 51/litre (increased from ₹31)
  • Buffalo milk: Rs. 61/litre
• The state is considering policy reforms to ease the registration process of women dairy cooperative societies, possibly delegating authority to local SDMs.

Natural Farming & Support Prices:

The minister praised Himachal farmers for adopting natural farming methods, noting:

• Over 44,000 farmers in Mandi district are practicing natural farming.
• 8,000+ hectares of land is under natural cultivation.
• State MSP for natural produce:
  • Wheat: Rs. 60/kg
  • Maize: Rs. 40/kg
    Procurement figures from Mandi include:
  • 65 metric tons of maize
  • 30 metric tons of wheat
    The produce is being sold under the “Him Bhog Atta” brand at Rs. 40/kg.

He further stated that the government is focused on encouraging youth to return to agriculture. As part of this vision, the procurement price of raw turmeric has been fixed at ₹90/kg, with plans to link its cultivation to cosmetics and herbal industries.

Additionally, there are efforts underway to digitize and globalize Himachal’s agricultural markets, connecting them to international buyers and platforms.

New Announcements:

• Construction of additional rest rooms at the newly inaugurated sub-market.
• Plans to streamline cooperative society registrations for women’s dairy groups.

Community Acknowledgment:

During the event, Minister Kumar honored Ramki Devi and her son Chaman Lal for donating land for the market’s construction.

Local Leadership Applauds Initiative:

Local MLA Vinod Kumar expressed gratitude to the Minister and also presented various local issues.
APMC Mandi Chairman Sanjeev Guleria shared details of recent improvements in farmer services, including:

• APMC income boost through new tolls in Chamukha and Tattapani
• Progress on setting up a cold storage facility at Zarlu in Balh and temporary vegetable market in Char Kufri (Karsog)

Broader Government Vision:

Former Chief Parliamentary Secretary Sohan Lal Thakur emphasized the government’s emphasis on strengthening the rural economy. Other speakers included Himachal State Cooperative Bank Director Lal Singh Kaushal, and former Nachan candidate Naresh Chauhan.

Prominent attendees included former candidates from Karsoag and Seraj, local Congress leaders, elected representatives, and senior officials from the Agriculture Department, including Joint Director Rahul Katoch.

This sub-vegetable market is expected to play a vital role in enhancing the agricultural economy of Mandi district and promoting localized, sustainable farming practices.