Shimla, Dec 15 (NationPress) In an effort to bolster the rural economy, the Himachal Pradesh government has established the highest support prices for wheat and maize, while also promoting natural farming.

Himachal Pradesh has emerged as the first state in India to procure wheat at Rs 40 per kg and maize at Rs 30 per kg from farmers practicing natural farming, according to an official announcement made on Sunday.

This initiative not only enhances farmers' financial stability but also advocates for eco-friendly agricultural practices.

So far, the government has procured 398 metric tonnes of naturally grown maize from 1,508 farmers, transferring a total of Rs 1.19 crore directly into their bank accounts.

To further promote natural farming, the government has introduced Him Bhog-Him Makki Atta in the marketplace. Farmers are also guaranteed a stable income, with a pledge to purchase up to 20 quintals of maize from each family engaged in natural farming.

The government has also initiated the Rajiv Gandhi Natural Farming Start-up Yojana as part of the Rs 680 crore Rajiv Gandhi Start-up Scheme, integrating agriculture with employment opportunities.

This year alone, 36,000 farmers have adopted natural farming, adding to the 1.98 lakh farmers already cultivating over 35,000 hectares.

Free certification has been granted to 1.50 lakh farmers, reinforcing the government’s dedication to making natural farming a sustainable and commercially viable model.

Additionally, the government has launched a Rs 1,292 crore initiative for horticulture and irrigation projects across seven districts.

Infrastructure development is also underway in 10 market yards to facilitate the sale of natural farming products, ensuring farmers have improved market access and fair prices for their goods.

The initiatives extend into the dairy sector as well. Himachal has become the first state to establish a minimum support price for milk, raising rates to Rs 45 per litre for cow milk and Rs 55 per litre for buffalo milk.

A cutting-edge milk processing facility with a capacity of 50,000 liters per day has been inaugurated in Dattanagar, benefiting over 20,000 dairy farmers.

Furthermore, a fully automated milk and dairy product processing plant is being set up at Dhagwar in Kangra district. Additional plants with 20,000 liters per day capacity are planned for Kullu, Nahan, and Nalagarh, alongside modern milk chilling facilities in Una and Hamirpur.

Currently, Milfed is procuring 2 lakh liters of milk daily, and in a pioneering move, goat milk is being bought at Rs 70 per liter in Una district.

Moreover, the Rs 500 crore Him Ganga scheme has been introduced to enhance milk production in the state. Over the past two years, approximately 26,000 farmers below the poverty line have benefited from a 50 percent subsidy on feed for pregnant livestock, significantly supporting the dairy sector.