In a major step towards strengthening rural livelihoods and promoting natural farming, the Himachal Pradesh Government has procured 2,123 quintals of wheat from 838 farmers this year at a support price of ₹60 per kg. A total of ₹1.27 crore has been directly transferred to the farmers’ bank accounts through DBT, along with ₹4.15 lakh in freight subsidy.
A government spokesperson stated that this initiative is part of the broader vision to boost the state’s agriculture sector and provide sustainable income sources to farmers. In addition to wheat, the state has also procured 127 metric tonnes of naturally grown raw turmeric from farmers across six districts at ₹90 per kg, transferring ₹1.14 crore to their accounts.
During the last season, 399 metric tonnes of naturally grown maize were purchased from 1,509 farmers in ten districts, with a total payment of ₹1.40 crore. The state has declared the Pangi Division of Chamba district as the official Natural Farming Division and plans to procure 40 metric tonnes of naturally grown barley at ₹60 per kg from farmers in the region starting late September.
To further boost organic agriculture, the government is promoting naturally grown products under the ‘Him-Bhog’ brand, which is gaining popularity among health-conscious consumers for its chemical-free offerings.
Training has been a core component of the natural farming push. So far, over 3.06 lakh farmers have been trained, with 38,437 hectares of land across 3,584 gram panchayats now under natural farming practices. Presently, more than 2.22 lakh farmers are engaged in growing chemical-free crops.
For the current financial year, the state has set a target of enrolling one lakh additional farmers under this initiative. As of now, 59,068 farmers and horticulturists from 88 development blocks have registered.
The spokesperson added that natural produce like wheat, maize, turmeric, and barley are being procured at fair prices — ₹60/kg for wheat and barley, ₹40/kg for maize, and ₹90/kg for turmeric — providing both remunerative returns to farmers and safe food options for consumers.
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