French scientists’ team calls on Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu

Shimla, August 30

A delegation of four scientists from the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment (INRAE) called on Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu here today.

The team led by Prof Allison Marie Loconto, Deputy Director of LISIS, included researchers Prof Mireille Matt, Dr Evelyne Lhoste and Dr Renee Van Dis are on a visit to Himachal Pradesh to learn about the advancements in natural farming in the state.

Sukhu said Himachal was the first state to offer a minimum support price for products grown through natural farming practices. Wheat was being procured at Rs 40 per kg and maize at Rs 30 per kg. Additionally, cow milk was being purchased at Rs 45 per litre and buffalo milk at Rs 55 per litre, he added.

He said that Himachal was set to become a leading state in natural farming within the next five to six years and emphasised the importance of product certification in natural farming. “The CETARA certification system has been introduced, which is being implemented in the state to ensure fair prices for the farmers,” he said.

Sukhu said that the HIM-UNNATI scheme was being implemented in the state with a cluster-based approach, which aims to produce and certify chemical-free produce, with plans to establish 2,600 agricultural groups involving approximately 50,000 farmers. “Further, the state government is also taking significant steps to boost the dairy sector and enhance milk production,” he said.

The visiting INRAE scientists are on a three-week tour to Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, and various other locations in the state. Their visit is part of the European Commission-funded ACROPICS project (Agroecological Crop Protection towards International Co-Innovation Dynamics and Evidence of Sustainability), which aims to advance co-innovation in agroecological crop protection.