Under the leadership of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the state government has taken another significant step towards promoting natural farming and strengthening the rural economy by enhancing the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of naturally grown ginger from Rs. 30 to Rs. 40 per kilogram. The decision aims to ensure remunerative returns to farmers practising natural farming and encourage greater adoption of chemical-free and environment-friendly agricultural practices across the state. The state government is implementing the flagship Rajiv Gandhi Prakritik Kheti Khushhal Kisan Yojana with the objective of promoting sustainable and chemical-free agriculture. Under this initiative, more than three lakh farmers across Himachal Pradesh have been trained in natural farming practices. The scheme encourages farmers to gradually reduce their dependence on chemical fertilisers and pesticides and adopt eco-friendly methods by promoting the use of cow dung, cow urine, biofertilisers and other locally available natural inputs. To incentivise farmers to adopt natural farming, the state government has introduced a policy of providing MSP for the procurement of naturally grown agricultural produce from registered farmers. This initiative provides farmers with assured price support and protects them against market uncertainties, while recognising their efforts towards conserving soil fertility, protecting the environment and producing chemical-free food.
The revised procurement rate is intended to strengthen the economic viability of ginger cultivation under natural farming, encourage farmers to expand the area under chemical-free cultivation and ensure that the benefits of the state's natural farming initiative reach the farming community.
Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that the state government was committed to transforming Himachal Pradesh into a model of natural and sustainable farming. He said: "Concerted efforts are being made to strengthen the rural economy and ensure that a greater share of the state's income reaches people living in rural areas, thereby improving their livelihoods and economic well-being."
He said that the enhancement of MSP for naturally grown ginger from Rs. 30 to Rs. 40 per kilogram was another farmer-friendly initiative aimed at ensuring better financial returns to farmers and encouraging them to adopt chemical-free agricultural practices. He added that the government had consistently taken progressive decisions to safeguard the interests of farmers by providing remunerative prices for naturally grown agricultural produce.
Sh. Sukhu further said that natural farming was not merely an agricultural practice but an important step towards protecting the environment, improving soil health, preserving biodiversity and ensuring safe and nutritious food for future generations. He said that the state government would continue to extend policy support and financial incentives to farmers adopting natural farming so that agriculture becomes more sustainable and economically rewarding. He reiterated that the government's priority was to strengthen the rural economy, enhance farmers' income and make Himachal Pradesh a leading state in natural farming.
