Himachal Pradesh is a leader in natural farming: Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla

Nauni/Solan, September 13: Himachal Pradesh is setting an example for the nation in the field of natural farming, with farmers of the state moving towards sustainable agricultural practices. Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, while addressing the two-day International Conference on Natural Farming at Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry at Nauni in Solan district, emphasised that Himachal farmers are showing growing interest in this eco-friendly approach. Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat also attended the event as special guest and keynote speaker, focused on enabling sustainable food systems.

Governor Shukla highlighted the significant progress made by the state, saying that about 1.94 lakh farmers from 3,584 panchayats are now growing crops naturally on 34,342 hectares of land. He lauded Nauni University for its significant role in promoting natural farming across the country and praised Acharya Devvrat for leading this movement in Himachal Pradesh.

Governor Shukla said, “It is a matter of great pride that a small state like Himachal has become a role model for others in natural farming. Agricultural scientists, research scholars and farmers from across the country are visiting our farms to gain knowledge about this method.” He also referred to the National Mission on Natural Farming launched by NITI Aayog, which is inspired by Himachal’s model.

Besides this, Governor Shukla outlined plans for the upcoming financial year 2024-25, under which 36,000 additional farmers will be brought under the ambit of natural farming. He said, “Ten new farmers from every panchayat will be certified through a dedicated portal and 10 farmer-producer associations will be formed to strengthen marketing efforts.”

Governor Acharya Devvrat lauded the farmers for adopting natural farming and credited the university scientists for their dedication to this cause. He also warned about the long-term damage caused by chemical fertilizers like urea and DAP and urged to shift from organic to natural farming as a sustainable solution for future generations.

Vice Chancellor Dr. Rajeshwar Singh Chandel expressed his gratitude to Acharya Devvrat for starting the natural farming movement in the state and appreciated the cooperation of the Agriculture Department in making the campaign successful.