Shimla, 15 December, 2024-In the tranquil hills of Himachal Pradesh a quiet revolution is transforming the agricultural landscape, empowering farmers and strengthening the rural economy. The state government with its innovative policies and unwavering commitment to sustainable farming has set a new benchmark for the nation. Among its groundbreaking initiatives, the decision to fix the highest support price for wheat and maize stands out as a milestone which is ensuring financial security for farmers and promoting natural farming practices.

Himachal Pradesh has become the first state in India to purchase wheat at Rs. 40 per kilogram and maize at Rs. 30 per kilogram from farmers engaged in natural farming. This bold step not only uplifts farmers financially but also champions eco-friendly agricultural practices. The government has procured 398 metric tonnes of naturally grown maize from 1,508 farmers so far. A total of Rs. 1.19 crore has been directly transferred to their bank accounts through the DBT system. To promote natural farming, the government has launched Him Bhog-Him Makki Atta in the market. Farmers are further assured of a stable income, with a commitment to purchase up to 20 quintals of maize from each family growing produce through natural farming.

The government’s vision extends beyond immediate relief, as demonstrated by the launch of the Rajiv Gandhi Natural Farming Start-up Yojana as part of the Rs. 680 crore Rajiv Gandhi Start-up Scheme. This scheme is also integrating agriculture with employment generation. This year alone, 36,000 farmers have joined natural farming, adding to the 1.98 lakh farmers already cultivating over 35,000 hectares of land. Free certification has been provided to 1.50 lakh farmers, reinforcing the state government’s commitment to making natural farming a commercially viable model.

As part of its holistic approach to rural empowerment, the government recently launched a Rs. 1,292 crore scheme for horticulture and irrigation projects across seven districts. In parallel, infrastructure is being developed in 10 market yards to facilitate the sale of natural farming products which is providing farmers with better access to markets and ensuring fair prices for their produce.

Himachal Pradesh’s pioneering initiatives also extend to the dairy sector also. With this Himachal became the first state in India to fix a minimum support price for milk, increasing rates to Rs. 45 per litre for cow milk and Rs. 55 per litre for buffalo milk. A state-of-the-art milk processing plant with a capacity of 50,000 liters per day has been inaugurated in Dattanagar, benefitting over 20,000 dairy farmers. Apart from this, a fully automated milk and milk product processing plant is being established at Dhagwar in Kangra district. Plants with 20,000 liters per day capacity are set to be established in Kullu, Nahan and Nalagarh, while modern milk chilling plants are being planned for Una and Hamirpur. MilKFED is currently procuring 2 lakh liters of milk daily and as a pioneering initiative goat milk is being purchased at Rs.70 per liter in Una district.

Alongside Rs. 500 crore "Him Ganga" scheme has been launched to enhance milk production in the state. Over the past two years approximately 26,000 below-poverty-line farmers have received a 50 percent subsidy on feed for pregnant cattle, providing significant support to the dairy sector.

Horticulture, another cornerstone of the economy of the state, has also seen remarkable advancements. Introduction of universal cartons for apple growers have enhanced marketability, while Rs. 153 crore has been disbursed to clear outstanding payments under the Market Intervention Scheme. Additionally, minimum support prices for apples, mangoes, and citrus fruits have been increased to Rs. 12 which has bolstered the income of orchardists.

To ensure productivity and security significant subsidies have been introduced, including up to 70 percent for fencing, 50 percent on seeds for cereals, pulses, oilseeds and fodder crops and 25 percent for potato, ginger and turmeric seeds. Over the last two years, under the JICA scheme, Rs. 96.15 crore has been spent on awareness and capacity-building programs, benefiting over 50,000 farmers. Apart from this Rs. 19.19 crore has been spent to support over 1,000 farmers through fencing projects in just two years.

The government has introduced the 'Sarkar Gaon Ke Dwar' initiative to understand the challenges faced by residents of remote areas. This visionary program brings governance closer to the people by addressing their hardships, listening to their concerns, and ensuring they receive the benefits of state government schemes. By resolving issues on a priority basis, the initiative is building trust between the government and paving the way for rural development.

The holistic approach of the government towards agriculture, horticulture and dairy, rooted in sustainable practices is transforming rural livelihoods. With initiatives like MSP and support for natural farming the state is paving the way for a brighter, self-reliant future and setting an inspiring example for rural development in India.