Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has emphasised the importance of transforming the agriculture sector through promotion of natural farming across the State. While presiding over a meeting of the Agriculture Department here today, he directed all the officers of the Agriculture Department to make concrete and coordinated efforts in promoting natural farming in the State.
He said that all the officers of Agriculture Department, JICA and ATMA must reach out to the farmers and provide crucial handholding to the farmers in adopting natural farming along with facilitating its certification. He directed to organize panchayat-wise camps to ensure farmer's registration under natural farming initiatives.
He said that accountability would be fixed in this regard at each level to achieve tangible outcomes. Shri Sukhu directed the APMC Chairpersons to actively motivate and assist farmers in this direction. He also asked all APMCs to establish high-end silos for the procurement of naturally grown wheat, maize and raw turmeric.
The procurement of naturally grown wheat has already commenced and the State Government is offering MSP of Rs. 60 per kg. to the farmers for their produce. He directed the Agriculture Department to provide high quality seeds to the farmers engaged in natural farming.
The Chief Minister said that in the effort to strengthen the government farms to promote natural farming, the Agriculture Department has developed three model farms i.e. Bhattoo farm in Kangra district, Bhagani in Sirmaur district and Bairtee-Boch in Solan district. He said that more such model farms would be established in the coming time.
Shri Sukhu also reviewed the progress of ongoing projects of constructing CA stores across the State. He emphasised that these CA stores are crucial for the farmers and horticulturists in providing them remunerative prices for their hard work. The State Government is establishing CA stores in Sundernagar of Mandi district, Annu (Jubbal), Chopal, Sundasu, Kharapathar, Duttnagar and Dhalli in Shimla district, Kandrouri and Sulah in Kangra district, Jabli in Solan district and Bhawanagar in Kinnaur district in a phased manner and the State Government has allocated Rs. 330 crore for this purpose.
The Chief Minister also reviewed the JICA project which is being implemented with an outlay of Rs. 1010 crore in all the 12 districts of the State and directed to ensure maximum benefits reach to the farmers through this project. He also took stock of various ongoing projects of Himachal Pradesh Agriculture Marketing Board and gave necessary direction.
Agriculture Minister Prof. Chander Kumar, MLA Chander Shekhar, Secretary Agriculture C. Paulrasu, Director Kumud Singh and Chairpersons of various APMCs were also present in the meeting.