Punjab Newsline, Shimla-
Himachal Pradesh government has launched various schemes to improve the livelihood of rural population and strengthen their economy. The farmers are adopting natural farming on a large scale due to the enhanced benefits being provided by the present state government, including the enhanced minimum support price on wheat, maize and milk etc.
A spokesman of the state government said that this year, 2123 quintals of wheat had been procured at the rate of Rs. 60 per kg from 838 farmers and Rs. 1.27 crore had been transferred through DBT into their bank accounts. In addition, freight subsidy of Rs. 4.15 lakh on transportation of wheat had also been provided. The state government had also purchased 127 metric tonnes of naturally grown raw turmeric at the rate of Rs. 90 per kg from the farmers of the six districts and Rs. 1.14 crore were transferred to their bank accounts.
The Spokesman said that the Agriculture department purchased 399 metric tonnes of naturally grown maize from 1509 farmers of ten districts during last season and Rs. 1.40 crore had been transferred to their accounts thus ensuring them better prices.
He said that the Pangi Division of Chamba district had been declared as natural farming division of the state and the government would procure 40 metric tonnes of naturally grown barely at the rate of Rs. 60 per kg from the farmers of Pangi area from the last week of September.
He said that the government had also been selling the products of naturally grown crops under 'Him-Bhog' brand in the markets which was becoming popular day-by-day and consumers were coming forward to purchase the chemical-free products.
The Spokesman said that to encourage the farmers to adopt the natural farming, the state government was providing training to the farmers so that they could grow such crops in their fields. He said that till now 3.06 lakh farmers were provided training in the State. He said that 38,437 hectare of land of 3584 gram panchayats had been brought under natural farming and over 2,22,893 farmers were growing various crops in the State.
The state government had set a target of engaging more one lakh farmers to adopt this initiative during the current financial year. So far, 59,068 farmers and horticulturists of 88 Development Blocks had filled their registration form.
He said that the state government was offering minimum support price to the naturally grown produces. Naturally grown wheat, maize, raw turmeric and barley was being procured at the rate of Rs. 60, Rs. 40, Rs. 90 and Rs. 60 per kg respectively. This was not only ensuring chemical-free products to the consumers but also providing remunerative prices to the farmers.