State govt pushes for sustainable farming

Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Minister Prof Chandra Kumar stressed the need for increased awareness about pest control among farmers during a high-level review meeting held at the Soil Conservation Officer’s office in Dharamsala. The meeting primarily addressed issues related to cannabis cultivation, the spread of fall armyworm and stunt disease affecting crops across Himachal Pradesh.

Prof Kumar reaffirmed the state government’s commitment — under the leadership of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu — to inclusive and sustainable agricultural development. He directed agricultural experts to ensure timely communication of public welfare schemes and pest management techniques to the farming community.

In a major development, the minister announced the approval of a pilot study on cannabis cultivation. The initiative aims to pave the way for a legal framework around industrial hemp farming. “Hemp holds significant economic and medicinal potential, especially for the textile and pharmaceutical industries,” he noted.

Prof Kumar also urged experts to promote organic pest control methods to safeguard both environmental and human health. “It’s equally important to preserve and promote traditional farming practices,” he added.

Dr Rajan Katoch, Principal Scientist at CSK Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University, highlighted hemp’s potential, estimating that up to 10 quintals of fibre per acre could be harvested for industrial use. Other experts, including Dr Ajay Kumar Sood and Dr Suman Kumar, addressed threats from pests such as the fall armyworm and whitehead plant hopper, strongly advocating the use of natural pesticides.

Also present at the meeting were Dr Rahul Katoch, Joint Director of Agriculture, and Dr Kuldeep Dhiman, Deputy Director of Agriculture, Kangra.