The Chief Minister's Office of Uttarakhand on Friday, 26 June 2026, shared remarks by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami praising the central government's agricultural initiatives, citing crop insurance, natural farming, and digital technology as pillars of farmer self-reliance under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Context

Speaking on the state of Indian agriculture, CM Dhami said: 'Aaj pradhanmantri shri Narendra Modi ji ke kushal netritva mein krishi kshetra mein aitihasik karya ho rahe hain' ('Today, historic work is happening in the agriculture sector under the able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi'). He specifically named the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), promotion of natural farming, and the use of digital technology as key drivers pushing farmers toward Atmanirbharta (self-reliance).

The statement was shared by the official Chief Minister's Office handle on X and reflects the state government's alignment with central agricultural policy priorities ahead of the kharif 2026 sowing season.

Policy Backdrop

The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, launched in 2016, replaced earlier schemes such as the National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (NAIS) and was designed to offer affordable crop insurance to smallholder farmers against losses from natural calamities, pests, and disease. The scheme has been a flagship instrument of the central government's farm risk-mitigation strategy.

Natural farming promotion in India gained formal momentum from 2015 onward through the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana and subsequent chemical-free agriculture campaigns. Uttarakhand, with its predominantly smallholder, rain-fed farming in hilly terrain, has been positioned as a natural fit for organic and natural farming clusters. The state has actively sought to expand such clusters across its districts.

Digital tools — including mobile-based crop monitoring, direct benefit transfer for insurance claims, and e-markets — have been integrated into central farm policy as part of the broader Atmanirbhar Bharat agenda to reduce intermediaries and improve farmer incomes.

Stakeholders and Impact

Uttarakhand's farming community is characterised by small and marginal landholders, many cultivating terraced fields across the Garhwal and Kumaon divisions. For these farmers, crop insurance under PMFBY provides a critical financial buffer against the region's frequent weather disruptions, including unseasonal rain and hailstorms.

The push toward natural farming is particularly relevant for Uttarakhand, where input costs are high due to difficult terrain and where organic produce commands premium prices in urban markets. Expansion of digital access — including mobile connectivity in remote hill villages — remains a prerequisite for full realisation of technology-driven farm benefits in the state.

What's Next

Observers will watch kharif 2026 enrollment data and claim settlement ratios under PMFBY in Uttarakhand as a measure of on-ground implementation. The expansion of natural farming clusters across additional districts and the rollout of digital agriculture tools to remote hill communities will be key indicators of whether the policy convergence articulated by CM Dhami translates into measurable outcomes for the state's farmers.