96 quintals of wheat, 53 quintals of maize and 9 quintals of turmeric produced through natural farming have been purchased
Hamirpur 03 August. The efforts of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu, who is determined to bring a new revolution in the agriculture sector by promoting natural farming in Himachal Pradesh, have started bringing commendable results. As per the instructions of the Chief Minister, natural farming is being spread in every village of Hamirpur district through the ATMA project and farmers are being motivated and encouraged to join it. So far, more than 20 thousand farmers in the district have adopted natural farming.
Farmers are getting double benefit from the subsidy given by the state government for starting natural farming and the high price fixed for the crops grown through this method. While they are producing safe food grains for themselves through natural farming, they are also earning good income by getting the highest price for these food grains. The cost of their farming has become almost zero and the fertility of the land has also started improving.
The state government has specially fixed the price of Rs. 40 per kg for maize produced through natural farming, Rs. 60 for wheat and Rs. 90 per kg for turmeric. The central government has also praised this special initiative of the Chief Minister and has called this step an exemplary example for other states of the country.
In the Rabi season that ended a few months ago, more than 96 quintals of wheat was purchased from the farmers of Hamirpur district, which was produced through natural farming. Its subsidy of about Rs 6 lakh is being transferred directly to the bank accounts of the farmers. 9 quintals of raw turmeric was also purchased in the district at the rate of Rs 90 per kilogram. Whereas, in the last Kharif season, 53 quintals of maize was also purchased, the subsidy of which was transferred directly to the bank accounts of the farmers.
Project Director of ATMA Project Hamirpur, Dr. Nitin Sharma said that to promote natural farming, farmers are given a subsidy of Rs. 25,000 on the purchase of a local cow. Apart from this, a transport subsidy of Rs. 5,000 and payment of cattle market fees of up to Rs. 2,000 is also made under the project. A subsidy of Rs. 8,000 is given for paving the floor of the cowshed and for making arrangements for collecting cow urine. A provision of subsidy of up to Rs. 2250 has also been made for preparing the material required for natural farming and for drums etc.
As a result of these facilities provided by the state government, the farmers of Hamirpur district have now started moving towards natural farming.
Shakuntala Devi and Sushma Devi of Gram Panchayat Amlahad of Naidun subdivision, Sunil Dutt of Dhaneta area associated with ATMA project and other farmers say that natural farming has brought a new hope for them. While this has reduced the cost of their farming, their crops are getting very good prices and their food has also become poison free.
