Government raises MSP on natural farming produce to boost rural economy
Shimla, April 21
In a major push to strengthen the rural economy and promote chemical-free agriculture, the state government has significantly enhanced the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for naturally grown wheat, maize, barley, turmeric, and ginger-benefiting thousands of farmers across Himachal Pradesh.
The MSP for wheat has been increased from Rs. 60 to Rs. 80 per kg, maize from Rs. 40 to Rs. 50 per kg, and barley (Pangi Valley, Chamba) from Rs. 60 to Rs. 80 per kg. Raw turmeric has witnessed a sharp hike from Rs. 90 to Rs. 150 per kg, while naturally grown ginger will be procured at Rs. 30 per kg by the State Government.
Under the Rajiv Gandhi Prakritik Kheti Protsahan Yojana (RGPKPY), the government plans to procure 400 metric tonnes (MT) of wheat from around 2,000 farmers, 250 MT maize, 150 MT raw turmeric, and 30 MT barley this year, while estimates for ginger procurement are underway. To support the initiative, a budgetary provision of Rs. 6.95 crore has been proposed, ensuring sustained financial backing for farmers adopting natural farming.
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said: “The government is committed to promoting chemical-free farming in the State. The Agriculture Department has set a target to bring one lakh farmers under natural farming by 2026, marking a transformative step towards sustainable agriculture in the state.”
Currently, over two lakh farmers across the state practicing natural farming have been registered, of which nearly 1.98 lakh have been certified. Agriculture continues to be the backbone of Himachal Pradesh’s economy, with nearly 90 percent of the population residing in rural areas and about 53.95 percent directly dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. The sector contributes approximately 14.70 percent to the state’s Gross Domestic Product.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment, the Chief Minister said that farmer-centric policies and progressive initiatives will continue to drive sustainable growth and strengthen the rural economy.
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