Pangi to become first natural farming sub-division in State

To promote sustainable and chemical-free agriculture, the State Cabinet has approved the declaration of Pangi of Chamba district as the first Natural Farming sub-division in the state, aiming at strengthening the natural farming ecosystem in the state.

To support the natural farming community in Pangi Valley, the government will establish an exclusive Farmers’ Producer Organization (FPO) dedicated to farmers practicing Natural Farming, which will play a vital role in providing marketing support, addressing technological gaps in crop production, managing supply and production of natural farming inputs and ensuring effective grading, packaging and market linkage for the produce.

A spokesperson of the state government said that FPO is expected to empower farmers by enabling them to fetch remunerative prices for their natural produce and improving access to untapped markets. A larger farmer base joining the FPO will enhance its bargaining power, generate sustainable market demand and accelerate the adoption of natural farming practices across the region. At the panchayat level, clusters of farmers will be developed and certified under the CETARANF system, adopted for natural farming practitioners across the State.

These efforts will eventually pave the way for Large Area Certification (LAC), which mandates chemical-free agriculture in contiguous areas. To facilitate this, a committee has been constituted to survey Pangi Valley for LAC certification under the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS). The committee has been tasked for submitting a detailed report to initiate the certification process. In a further boost to the natural farming initiative, the State Government has announced the procurement of barley grown under natural Farming in Pangi at a Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs. 60 per kg. This move aims to encourage local youth and farming communities in remote areas like Pangi to adopt natural farming practices for a sustainable livelihood.

He said that this will also go a long way in strengthening their economy. The spokesperson said that to ensure financial sustainability and continued support for this initiative, the Chief Minister has announced an allocation of Rs. 5 crore as a revolving fund for natural farming farmers in Pangi.