Natural Farming Gains Momentum, Boosting Rural Economy in Himachal

Natural farming is steadily transforming the agricultural landscape of Himachal Pradesh, emerging as a reliable and sustainable pillar of the rural economy. Driven by the state government’s ambitious Rajiv Gandhi Prakritik Kheti Khushhal Kisan Yojana, the initiative is bringing positive change to thousands of farming and horticulture families across the state.

At a time when traditional farming faces multiple challenges—ranging from climate change and rising input costs to declining soil fertility and crop damage caused by wild animals—natural farming is offering farmers a more sustainable and cost-effective alternative. The shift has not only reduced dependency on chemical inputs but has also helped farmers maintain soil health while improving their incomes.

One of the most impactful decisions taken by the state government has been the introduction of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for naturally grown produce. Himachal Pradesh has become the first state in the country to implement MSP for such crops, giving farmers much-needed protection against market fluctuations and encouraging more cultivators to adopt natural farming practices.

Efforts are also being made to connect farmers directly with government schemes through the Him Parivar Register. The Agriculture Department has set a target of enrolling one lakh farmers this year, and so far, over 70,000 farmers have already been registered, achieving about 70 percent of the goal. This digital linkage ensures transparency and facilitates the smooth delivery of benefits to farmers.

Chief Minister has directed officials to further expand the reach of MSP beneficiaries so that economic growth penetrates deeper into rural areas. The larger vision behind the initiative is to ensure that the income generated through agriculture remains within village communities, thereby strengthening the local rural economy.

Today, more than 2.23 lakh farming and horticulture families have either fully or partially adopted natural farming methods, covering nearly all gram panchayats (99.3%) across the state. This widespread adoption reflects growing confidence among farmers in the long-term viability of natural farming.

In the 2026–27 Budget, the government announced a significant increase in MSP rates for naturally grown crops. Wheat is now procured at ₹80 per kg, maize at ₹50 per kg, raw turmeric at ₹150 per kg, barley in Pangi Valley at ₹80 per kg, and ginger at ₹30 per kg—ensuring better returns to farmers.

So far, the government has procured over 11,000 quintals of produce from more than 7,000 farmers, with around ₹6.4 crore directly transferred to their bank accounts. The target for the current year is to expand procurement to nearly 63,000 farmers, further strengthening farmer participation.

Notably, wheat procurement under the scheme has seen a sharp rise, with the number of farmers nearly doubling—from 838 last year to over 2,000 this year. The government believes MSP represents not just the price of crops, but also the confidence and security it provides to farmers, especially small and marginal ones.

In addition to procurement, the state is focusing on value addition and market linkages. Natural produce is being processed into items like wheat flour, porridge, maize flour and barley flour, and marketed through the Food Civil Supplies Corporation and Agriculture Department. This approach ensures better income for farmers and increases the value of their produce.

Overall, natural farming is not only improving livelihoods but also paving the way for a healthier, environmentally sustainable and self-reliant rural economy in Himachal Pradesh.