16th, March, 2023
Topic: Natural Farming has benefitted consumers as well as farmers: Governor
Himachal HPAS Prelims and Mains are essential.
Importance for Prelims: General issues on environmental ecology, bio-diversity and Climate Change – that do not require subject specialization and General science
Significance for the Mains Exam:
- PAPER-VI: GENERAL STUDIES-III: UNIT II: Concept of organic farming, seed certification, rain water harvesting, techniques of irrigation and soil conservations and soil health cards.
What is the news?
- Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla said that the demand for natural products has increased and farmers were also getting benefits from it as it was beneficial in many ways.
- He said that innovative steps like partnerships with agricultural universities for natural farming technology development, branding and packing material development, and fellowship programs for students and trainees would prove effective in promoting natural farming.
Governor shared:
- Himachal Pradesh is fast moving towards chemical-free farming. There was a need to promote natural farming in a big way so that the best agri produce for health and environmental protection could be provided, besides farmers could get reasonable prices for their produce.
- Appreciating the efforts of the department, the Governor said that farmers were adopting natural farming methods in all the districts of the state. So far 1.59 lakh farmers and fruit growers were producing different crops on 19320 hectares of land with this technique.
- During the meeting, Rakesh Kanwar, Secretary of Agriculture, gave detailed information about Prakritik Kheti Khushhal Kisan Yojana to the Governor. He apprised that there were mainly small and marginal farmers in the State who were attracted to this method. He presented table calendars, recipe books and brochures prepared by the Agriculture Department to promote nutritious grains to the Governor to celebrate the International Millet Year 2023.
- Dr. Manoj Gupta, Principal Scientist from the State Project Implementation Unit of Natural Farming, presented the scheme and apprised the Governor about its progress and effects on this occasion.
About Prakritik Kheti Khushhal Kisan Yojana:
State Government to encourage Natural Farming in the State has launched a new scheme called “Prakritik Kheti Khushhal Kisan Yojna”. The government intends to encourage “Natural Farming”, to bring down the cost of cultivation. The following actions are being taken to promote natural farming in the state:
- Farmers and extension staff of the Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Husbandry Departments are being trained in this farming. Awareness campaigns are also being launched.
- The Universities will develop a package of practice.
- The use of chemical fertilizers and chemical pesticides is being discouraged.
- 80 % assistance limited to Rs. 8000/- per natural farming farmer is being provided for the lining of cattle sheds, facilitating collection of cow dung and urine.
- 75 % assistance is limited to Rs. 750/ drum, and three drums per natural farming farmer will be provided to prepare inputs for natural farming.
- A subsidy of 50 % is being provided for the purchase of Desi Cow limited to Rs. 25,000/- and an additional Rs. 5000/- for transportation purposes.
- One farmer in each village would be incentivized to open Sansadhan Bhandar to supply NF inputs at a nominal rate. One-time assistance of Rs.10,000 per Sansadhan Bhandar would be provided.
- Farmers would be provided training & necessary equipment.
9.61 lakh farmer families of the State will be covered in a phased manner under natural farming cultivation. To date, 1,71,063 farmers have opted for natural farming in the State, covering an area of 9464 hectares. During the last year 2021-22, 54,237 farmers have been covered under natural farming. In FY 2022-23, an additional area of 20,000 hectares is to be covered. In addition, one model per panchayat is to be developed and 100 villages are to be converted into Subhash Palekar Natural farming. The place has been allocated in 10 APMCs to sell the Natural Farming Produce, and 2 Number of new markets are to be developed very shortly for the purpose. This scheme has a budget provision of 17.00 crores for the financial year 2022-23.
