2,123 quintal wheat procured, Rs 1.27 cr transferred to farmers

The Agriculture Department has procured 2,123 quintals of wheat at the rate of Rs 60 per kg from 838 farmers this year and transferred Rs 1.27 crore through direct benefit transfer (DBT) to their bank accounts. Besides, a freight subsidy of Rs 4.15 lakh on the transportation of wheat was also provided. It had purchased 399 metric tonnes of naturally-grown maize from 1,509 farmers in 10 districts during the last season and transferred Rs 1.40 crore to their bank accounts.

An official spokesperson said here today that the state government had launched various schemes to improve the livelihood of the rural population and strengthen their economy. Farmers were adopting natural farming on a large scale due to enhanced benefits being provided by the state government, including higher minimum support prices for wheat, maize and milk etc, he added.

He said that 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 six districts for Rs 1.14 crore. He added that Pangi in Chamba district had been declared a natural farming division and the government would procure 40 metric tonnes of naturally-grown barely at the rate of Rs 60 per kg from farmers from the last week of September.

The spokesperson said that

He said that the government had also sold the products made from naturally-grown crops under the ''Him-Bhog'' brand in markets that were becoming popular day-by-day and consumers were coming forward to purchase chemical-free products.

He said that to encourage farmers to adopt natural farming, the state government was providing training to them so that they could grow such crops in their fields. He added that till now, 3.06 lakh farmers had been provided training in the state.

The spokesperson said that 38,437 hectares in 3,584 gram panchayats had been brought under natural farming and over 222,893 farmers were growing various crops in the state.

The state government had set a target of encouraging one lakh more farmers to adopt natural farming to ensure the supply of chemical-free products to consumers. So far, 59,068 farmers and horticulturists of 88 development blocks had filled registration forms, he added.