Shimla, Dec 6 (NationPress) Himachal Pradesh, a state where the economy significantly depends on agriculture and horticulture, is gearing up to promote maize flour derived from natural farming. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced on Friday that this maize flour will be marketed under the brand name 'Himbhog'.

Over 4,000 quintals of maize have been acquired from 1,506 farmers engaging in natural farming practices throughout the state, excluding the districts of Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur.

The highest quantity of procurement was recorded in the Solan district (1,140 quintals), followed by Chamba (810 quintals) and Mandi (650 quintals), as per an official statement.

The Chief Minister highlighted that Himachal Pradesh is the pioneering state to provide the highest minimum support price (MSP) for both wheat and maize. The government is offering Rs 40 per kg for wheat and Rs 30 per kg for maize produced via natural farming.

Currently, the government is promoting natural farming across 35,000 hectares, benefiting approximately 1.98 lakh farmers.

Additionally, free certification has been extended to over 1.5 lakh farmers, with an extra 36,000 farmers being integrated into natural farming practices.

The Chief Minister stated that the government has improved infrastructure at 10 mandis to ease the marketing of natural farming products, ensuring that farmers do not encounter any difficulties while selling their produce.

Moreover, the government is emphasizing the connection between agriculture and employment through the third phase of the Rajiv Gandhi Startup Yojana, which commenced with a budget of Rs 680 crore.

Stressing the vital role of agriculture and horticulture in the state's economy, the Chief Minister noted that nearly 90 percent of the state's population resides in rural areas.

To bolster the rural economy, the government is launching various initiatives, including direct financial assistance to farmers.

Furthermore, the government is purchasing cow milk at Rs 45 per liter and buffalo milk at Rs 55 per liter, while also increasing the daily MNREGA wage by Rs 60 to a record Rs 300.

These initiatives aim to enhance the economic conditions of farmers and ensure that farming becomes a sustainable source of income.

Interestingly, farmers in remote valleys of the state, such as Pangi in Chamba district and Dodra Kwar in Shimla district, have historically avoided using pesticides and fertilizers for their crops.

Rakesh Thakur, a farmer from Dodra Kwar, has been cultivating organic rajma (kidney beans) that fetch premium prices in the domestic market.

Most farmers transitioning to organic farming are located in the Rampur area of upper Shimla district, where pilot projects for organic farming were initiated back in 2005.