Himachal Government Pushes Bold Reforms to Strengthen Rural Economy, Natural Farming at Core.
Shimla:
Reaffirming its commitment to inclusive and sustainable growth, the Himachal Pradesh government has placed strengthening of the rural economy at the top of its development agenda, with natural farming emerging as a central pillar of this transformation. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Tuesday said that a series of bold and unprecedented reforms were being implemented to economically empower farmers and rural households across the state.
Addressing the media after his return from New Delhi, the Chief Minister highlighted that agriculture continues to be the backbone of Himachal Pradesh’s economy. Nearly 90 per cent of the state’s population resides in rural areas, while about 53.95 per cent is directly dependent on farming and allied activities for livelihood.
He said that for the first time in the state’s history, the government has taken decisive steps to ensure long-term income security and self-reliance for farmers. Key initiatives include the introduction of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for produce grown through natural farming, notification of a Universal Carton for apples to safeguard horticulturists’ interests, targeted rural subsidies and the innovative scheme of purchasing cow dung to provide supplementary income to farmers.
“These unprecedented measures are aimed at maximizing benefits for the rural population and ensuring their economic empowerment,” the Chief Minister said.
As part of its long-term vision, the state has set an ambitious target of bringing 9.61 lakh farmer families under natural farming. This, he said, reflects the government’s strong resolve to transform the rural economy while ensuring sustainable livelihoods for farming communities.
Providing an update on progress, the Chief Minister informed that around 2,22,893 farmers and orchardists have already fully or partially adopted natural farming practices over approximately 38,437 hectares. This shift has helped reduce input costs, improve soil health and enhance farm incomes in an environmentally sustainable manner.
Highlighting a major milestone, he said that on April 15, 2025, the tribal Pangi sub-division of Chamba district was officially declared a Natural Farming Sub-Division. Farmers in the region are not only cultivating traditional crops but are also naturally growing a wide range of medicinal herbs, demonstrating a strong commitment to eco-friendly agriculture.
The Chief Minister noted that Himachal Pradesh has become the first state in the country to fix MSP for produce grown through natural farming. The MSP for maize and wheat has been enhanced from Rs. 30 to Rs. 40 per kilogram and from Rs. 40 to Rs. 60 per kilogram respectively. MSP has also been fixed at Rs. 90 per kilogram for raw turmeric and Rs. 60 per kilogram for barley grown in the Pangi Valley, along with a substantial increase in support prices for fruits.
He further said that all payments are being made directly into farmers’ bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system to ensure transparency and efficiency. So far, Rs. one crore has been deposited for the purchase of 399 metric tonnes of naturally grown maize, Rs. 1.32 crore for procuring 2,123 quintals of wheat and Rs. 11.44 lakh for 127 quintals of raw turmeric across six districts.
To strengthen market linkages and branding, natural farming products have been launched under dedicated brand names. Maize flour is being sold as ‘Him Bhog Makki’, wheat products as ‘Him Chakki Atta’ and ‘Him Daliya’, while raw turmeric is marketed as ‘Him Haldi’, providing better market access and recognition to farmers.
To encourage wider adoption of natural farming, the government is offering a subsidy of Rs. 750 per drum, up to three drums per family, for preparing natural farming inputs. Financial assistance of up to Rs. 8,000 per farmer is also being provided for cowshed improvement, while a subsidy of up to Rs. 25,000 is available for purchasing indigenous breed cows.
The Chief Minister also announced the rollout of a new cluster-based initiative, ‘Him Unnati’, which will be implemented in a phased manner with the identification of 2,600 clusters across the state. Additionally, the government is promoting saffron and asafetida cultivation in suitable high-altitude regions of Chamba, Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur.
“These initiatives clearly reflect the government’s resolve to make Himachal Pradesh self-reliant and prosperous,” the Chief Minister said, adding that the state is steadily moving towards its goal of becoming one of the country’s leading natural farming hubs.
