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Himachal Becomes First State to Offer MSP for Chemical-Free Crops
25 Jul
Summary
- Over 2.23 lakh Himachal farmers adopt natural farming
- State offers MSP for maize, wheat, and turmeric grown organically
- Pangi subdivision declared as Himachal's first natural farming region
Himachal Pradesh is witnessing a surge in natural farming, with the state government taking the lead in promoting sustainable agriculture practices. As of now, more than 2.23 lakh farmers and horticulturists in the state have adopted chemical-free farming, either partially or fully, across almost all the panchayats.
In a significant move, Himachal has become the first state in the country to provide a minimum support price (MSP) for various crops grown through natural farming methods. The government has fixed an MSP of Rs 30 per kg for maize, which has been further increased to Rs 40. So far, the state has procured about 400 metric tonnes of maize from 1,509 farmers at the support price. Similarly, wheat is being procured for Rs 60 per kg, and the government has announced an MSP of Rs 90 on raw turmeric grown through natural farming techniques.
The state government has set a target to connect 9.61 lakh farmers with natural farming in a phased manner. Additionally, the Pangi subdivision in Chamba district has been declared as the state's first natural farming subdivision, with around 2,244 farmer families actively practicing chemical-free farming in this remote tribal valley.
