Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur participated in the Chief Minister's Conclave of BJP ruled states at Varanasi today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi presided over the conclave. He reviewed the progress of implementation of various Centrally Sponsored Flagship Programmes by the States.Chief Minister delivered a detailed presentation on zero budget natural farming.He informed that Himachal Pradesh is an agrarian state and the state government is committed to increase the income manifold of farmers in the state. To achieve this, the state government is trying to create a niche for Himachal agriculture and horticulture products by offering produce grown using the natural farming techniques such as using cow urine, cow dung and other local fertilizers.
Chief Minister said that state government is making sincere efforts to promote best practices in natural farming. He said that awareness was being spread amongst farmers to adopt natural farming and training was being provided to farmers to adopt this practice. He said that Subhash Palekar Prakritik Kheti Khushhal Kisan Yojna has been started in 2018. He said that 153643 farmers have been trained in natural farming and 9192 hectare land is being covered under the scheme at present. He said that about 63.6 percent increase in farmers income has been registered and crop diversification has got a boost as farmers are growing atleast nine crops simultaneously. Zero budget natural farming has also resulted in reduction of crop damage, he added.Jai Ram Thakur also briefed on the other developmental initiatives covering social security, women empowerment and good governance in the state.Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Minister's of various BJP ruled states participated in the Conclave.