The Himachal Pradesh Government has accorded top priority to strengthening the rural economy by promoting natural farming as a key pillar of inclusive and sustainable development. Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, after returning from New Delhi today, said that agriculture continues to be the backbone of the State’s economy, with nearly 90 percent of the population living in rural areas and about 53.95 percent directly dependent on farming and allied activities.
The Chief Minister said that empowering the rural population remains the foremost priority of the present State Government. For the first time in the history of Himachal Pradesh, a series of bold and far-reaching reforms have been implemented to ensure economic security and self-reliance of farmers. These include the introduction of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops produced through natural farming, notification of the Universal Carton for apples to safeguard horticulturists’ interests, targeted rural subsidies and the innovative initiative of purchasing cow dung to provide farmers with an additional source of income.
With a long-term vision for rural transformation, the State Government has set an ambitious target to bring 9.61 lakh farmer families under natural farming, reaffirming its commitment to sustainable livelihoods and ecological agriculture.
The Chief Minister informed that several farmer-friendly schemes have been rolled out to support this transition. As a result, around 2,22,893 farmers and orchardists have already adopted natural farming practices fully or partially on nearly 38,437 hectares across the State. This shift has helped reduce input costs, improve soil health and enhance farm incomes in an environmentally sustainable manner.
Highlighting a major milestone, Sukhu said that on 15 April 2025, the tribal Pangi sub-division of Chamba district was officially declared a Natural Farming Sub-Division. Along with traditional crops, farmers in the region are cultivating medicinal herbs through natural methods, showcasing their commitment to eco-friendly agriculture.
He further stated 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 increased 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 significant enhancements in fruit support prices.
The Chief Minister said that all payments are being made directly into farmers’ bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer, ensuring transparency and efficiency. So far, Rs. 1 crore has been deposited for the purchase of 399 metric tonnes of naturally grown maize, Rs. 1.32 crore for 2,123 quintals of wheat and Rs. 11.44 lakh for 127 quintals of raw turmeric across six districts.
To strengthen market linkages, natural farming produce is being marketed under a dedicated brand. Products include maize flour as Him Bhog Makki, wheat products as Him Chakki Atta and Him Daliya, and raw turmeric as Him Haldi, helping farmers gain better market access and brand recognition.
To promote wider adoption of natural farming, the government is providing a subsidy of Rs. 750 per drum (up to three drums per family) for preparing natural inputs. Financial assistance of up to Rs. 8,000 per farmer is being provided for cowshed improvement, along with a subsidy of up to Rs. 25,000 for purchasing indigenous breed cows.
Additionally, a cluster-based initiative titled Him Unnati is being implemented in phases, under which 2,600 clusters will be identified. The State Government is also promoting saffron and asafetida cultivation in suitable high-altitude areas of Chamba, Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur.
The Chief Minister said that these initiatives reflect the government’s strong resolve to make Himachal Pradesh self-reliant and prosperous, while steadily positioning the State as one of the country’s leading hubs for natural farming.
