How Himachal’s Natural Farming Push has Put ₹78 Crore in the Pockets of Mandi’s Farmers
For years, farmers in Himachal’s Mandi district struggled to get fair prices for their naturally grown crops. But now, there’s a genuine reason to smile.
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s push for natural farming is finally showing real results on the ground. The state now offers the highest minimum support price (MSP) for naturally grown grains in all of India – and farmers are feeling the difference.
In just two years, nearly ₹78 lakh has been transferred directly to farmers in Mandi district alone. That’s money in their bank accounts, not just promises.
What’s even more heartening? Over 23,000 new farmers have switched to natural farming in the last three years. Today, more than 48,000 families in Mandi are practicing it.
This year’s budget brought more good news. The government hiked MSP for natural wheat from ₹60 to ₹80 per kg, maize from ₹40 to ₹50 per kg, and turmeric from ₹90 to ₹150 per kg. Ginger got an MSP of ₹30 per kg for the first time ever.
“We can finally breathe a little easier,” says Neelam from Dhanalag village in Sarkaghat. Premlata from Sundernagar, Leela Devi from Ghatta village in Balh, and Geeta from Karsog echo her sentiment. “The higher prices are changing our lives. This is what we’ve been waiting for.”
The government hasn’t stopped there. To help farmers in hilly areas, they’re now paying an extra ₹200 per quintal just for transporting wheat to procurement centers. Six such centers are now operating in Mandi Sadar, Padhar, Sundernagar, Jogindernagar, Sarkaghat, and Dharmpur.
Dr. Rakesh Patiyal, Project Director of ATMA Mandi, shares the numbers that tell the real story. In 2024-25, the department purchased over 651 quintals of maize, nearly 3 metric tonnes of raw turmeric, and 290 quintals of wheat from natural farmers. The next wheat purchase season starts next month.
Hitendra Thakur, Deputy Project Director of ATMA, adds that ₹37 lakh went to 495 farmers in 2024-25, and another ₹40 lakh to 428 farmers in 2025-26. “I urge more farmers to make the switch,” he says.
Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan puts it simply: “The government keeps raising MSPs, and we make sure the money reaches farmers on time. That’s the real work.”
For Mandi’s farmers, after years of uncertainty, the earth is finally yielding something more than crops – it’s yielding hope.
