The promise made by Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to the people of the Pangi region in Chamba district is soon to be fulfilled. To promote natural farming, the state government will begin the procurement of naturally grown barley in Pangi from October 8.
The state government has fixed a minimum support price (MSP) of Rs. 60 per kilogram for this barley. This is the first time such a government-supported procurement drive is taking place in this remote region, and the local farmers are highly enthusiastic about it.
According to a government spokesperson, all preparations for the procurement have been completed by the Agriculture Department. Five procurement centers have been set up across Pangi Valley at Hudan, Sechu, Sural, Killar and Sach.
So far, 80 farmers of the Pangi region have registered with the department to benefit from this initiative. Promoting natural farming remains a key priority for the state government, which has already completed the procurement of naturally grown wheat from across Himachal Pradesh.
Through 22 procurement centers, a total of 2,123.587 quintals of wheat has been purchased from 838 farmers. The procured wheat is being processed into flour and porridge and will be marketed under the ‘Him-Bhog’ brand. Farmers have been paid Rs. 1.27 crore for their produce, along with an additional Rs. 4.15 lakh as transport subsidy.
The spokesperson added that the government was committed to encouraging naturally grown produce by offering MSPs for different crops, Rs. 60 per kg for wheat, Rs. 40 for maize, Rs. 90 for raw turmeric, and Rs. 60 for barley. This initiative not only ensures chemical-free food products for consumers but also guarantees better prices for farmers cultivating through natural methods.
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu stated that the present State government was dedicated to strengthening the rural economy and putting money directly into the hands of villagers. To achieve this, the government has launched two new initiatives, the Milk Incentive Scheme and the Transport Subsidy Scheme, starting in the Arki Assembly constituency of Solan district.
Under the Milk Incentive Scheme, farmers associated with registered milk cooperative societies will receive an incentive of Rs. 3 per litre, while under the Transport Subsidy Scheme, private milk societies will also receive Rs. 3 per litre as financial assistance for milk collection and transportation.