To promote natural farming, Agriculture Minister inaugurates sales centre in Shimla

The Agriculture Department started a sales centre for natural farming products near the Directorate building at Boileuganj in Shimla last evening. Agriculture Minister Chander Kumar inaugurated the centre to promote chemical-free natural farming under the Rajiv Gandhi Prakritik Kheti Khushhal Kisan Yojana.

The minister said, “The department needs to work out a marketing mechanism with the industry for the sale of natural produce and products. The state government is procuring naturally-grown raw turmeric, maize, wheat and barley at the highest Minimum Support Price (MSP) to promote natural farming in the state and strengthen the economy of farmers. The department can work out a link-up with the medicinal and cosmetic industry for selling raw turmeric.”

Director, Agriculture, Ravinder Singh Jasrotia briefed the minister about the achievements under the Rajiv Gandhi Prakritik Kheti Khushhal Kisan Yojana. He said that at present, 2,23,029 farmers were practising natural farming on 38,456 hectares in Himachal Pradesh. “They are growing multiple crops in the same field with this non-chemical practice. Such centres for natural farming products will be opened in other districts as well,” he added.

Under this yojana, naturally-grown maize, wheat, barley and raw turmeric are being procured from farmers and then their proper branding and packaging is done to sell chemical-free maize and wheat flour and daliya in the market under the brand name “Him Bhog”.