HIMCON Chairman Vikesh Chauhan meets Chief Minister on Strengthening Rural Economy
Shimla | 30 January, 2026
Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday reiterated the State Government’s firm commitment to strengthening the rural economy and ensuring sustainable income growth for farmers across Himachal Pradesh. He said that villages and agriculture remain at the core of the government’s development agenda.
Managing Director and Chairman of HIMCON, Vikesh Chauhan, called on the Chief Minister along with a delegation from the Rampur Assembly Constituency and expressed gratitude for the trust reposed in him. Chauhan assured the Chief Minister that he would work with dedication and responsibility to meet the expectations of the party leadership and contribute meaningfully to the organisation.
During the interaction, the Chief Minister noted that this was the first time an individual from the Rampur region had been entrusted with this key responsibility, calling it a matter of pride for the area. He said the Congress-led State Government has successfully completed three years in office and continues to make consistent efforts to ensure that welfare schemes reach the most marginalised sections of society.
Highlighting the importance of rural development, the Chief Minister said that nearly 90 percent of the State’s population lives in rural areas. Keeping this reality in mind, the government has designed its policies with a clear focus on villages, farmers and allied sectors. He emphasised that agriculture forms the backbone of the rural economy and strengthening it is essential for inclusive growth.
The Chief Minister said that in a landmark move, the State Government has introduced Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for milk and naturally grown agricultural produce to provide assured income to farmers and promote sustainable farming practices. He added that these initiatives are aimed at reducing farmers’ dependency on market fluctuations and encouraging natural farming.
Under the MSP initiative, wheat produced through natural farming is being procured at ₹60 per kilogram, maize at ₹40 per kilogram and raw turmeric at ₹90 per kilogram. In the dairy sector, cow milk is being purchased at ₹51 per litre, while buffalo milk is being procured at ₹61 per litre.
To further support dairy farmers, the Chief Minister said that an additional transport subsidy of ₹2 per litre is being provided to those farmers who carry milk themselves to procurement centres located more than two kilometres away. This step, he said, was introduced to reduce logistical costs and improve profitability for small and marginal farmers.
The Chief Minister stated that the government’s long-term vision is to create a resilient rural economy by combining fair pricing, sustainable farming, and farmer-centric welfare measures, ensuring economic security and dignity for those engaged in agriculture.
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