Himachal Government Procures 2,123 Quintals of Wheat, Transfers ₹1.31 Crore Directly to Farmers’ Accounts

Shimla, August 5:
In a significant step toward strengthening farmers’ livelihoods and promoting natural farming, the Himachal Pradesh government has procured 2,123 quintals of wheat from 838 farmers during the current financial year. The wheat was purchased at the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of ₹60 per kilogram. Under the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system, a total of ₹1.31 crore has been credited directly to the farmers’ bank accounts, which includes ₹4.15 lakh provided as a transport subsidy.

The state government is also procuring other naturally grown crops such as turmeric, maize, and barley at fixed support prices. For raw turmeric, an MSP of ₹90 per kilogram has been set. This year, 127 metric tonnes of turmeric were procured from six districts, and payments totaling ₹1.14 crore were made directly to farmers.

According to a spokesperson from the Agriculture Department, during the previous season, the government procured 399 metric tonnes of maize from 1,509 farmers across 10 districts, disbursing ₹1.40 crore to them. This initiative ensures fair pricing for agricultural produce and reduces farmers’ dependence on middlemen.

In a focused move, Pangi sub-division in Chamba district has been declared a ‘Natural Farming Sub-Division’. Here, 40 metric tonnes of barley will be procured in the last week of September at ₹60 per kilogram. All of these natural products are being marketed under the brand name Him-Bhog, which is gaining rapid popularity among consumers. The brand is helping to build trust in chemical-free food products.

So far, over 3.06 lakh farmers in Himachal have received training in natural farming methods. This practice has been adopted on 38,437 hectares of land, with 2.22 lakh farmers currently cultivating various natural crops. For the current financial year, the government aims to bring over 1 lakh farmers into the natural farming fold. Already, 59,068 farmers and horticulturists have registered.

The MSPs fixed by the state for natural produce are ₹60/kg for wheat, ₹40/kg for maize, ₹90/kg for raw turmeric, and ₹60/kg for barley. These efforts are not only boosting farm incomes but also ensuring safe, high-quality, chemical-free food for consumers.