Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla said that the demand for natural products has increased and farmers were also getting benefits from it as it was beneficial in many ways. He said that innovative steps like partnerships with agricultural universities for natural farming technology development, branding and packing material development, and fellowship programs for students and trainees would prove effective in the direction of promoting natural farming.
This was stated by the Governor in a meeting with senior officers of Agriculture Department at Raj Bhavan here today. Shukla said that Himachal Pradesh is fast moving towards chemical-free farming. There was a need to promote natural farming in a big way so that the best agri- produce for health and environmental protection could be provided besides farmers could get good prices for their produce. Appreciating the efforts of the department, the Governor said that farmers were adopting natural farming methods in all the districts of the state and so far 1.59 lakh farmers and fruit growers were producing different crops on 19320 hectares of land with this technique.
During the meeting, Rakesh Kanwar, Secretary Agriculture gave detailed information about Prakritik Kheti Khushhal Kisan Yojana to the Governor. He apprised that there were mainly small and marginal farmers in the State who were getting attracted towards this method. He presented table calendars, recipe books and brochures prepared by the Agriculture Department for the promotion of nutritious grains to the Governor to celebrate the International Millet Year 2023. Dr. Manoj Gupta, Principal Scientist from State Project Implementation Unit of Natural Farming made a presentation on the scheme and apprised the Governor about its progress and effects on this occasion. Secretary to Governor, Rajesh Sharma, State Project Director of Natural Farming, Naresh Thakur, Director Agriculture, Dr. Rajesh Kaushik, Joint Director Agriculture, Ravindra Singh Jasrotia and other officers were also present on the occasion.
