CM Dhami Promotes Natural Farming in Khatima Fields

Key Takeaways

CM Pushkar Singh Dhami personally applied cow-dung manure on his fields in Nagla Tarai, Khatima on 15 June 2026 .

His mother accompanied him, framing the act as a family and community value.

Udham Singh Nagar is a tarai district with intensive conventional farming, making it a key target for natural farming outreach.

The gesture aligns with the national Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana , which has promoted organic clusters since 2015 .

The Chief Minister's Office shared a video of the activity to amplify the public messaging.

Policy observers will watch for follow-up budget allocations or training programmes for natural farming in tarai districts.

The Chief Minister's Office of Uttarakhand announced on Monday, 15 June 2026, that Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami personally applied cow-dung manure on his agricultural fields in Nagla Tarai, under Khatima in Udham Singh Nagar district, alongside his mother — delivering a hands-on message in favour of natural farming.

Context

The Chief Minister's Office posted that 'Mukhyamantri Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami ne aaj Nagla Tarai mein apni mata ji ke saath apne kheton mein gobar se bani khad ko dalkar prakritik kheti ka diya sandesh' — meaning CM Dhami, along with his mother, spread cow-dung-based compost on his own fields in Nagla Tarai today, conveying a message of natural farming. The act was recorded on video and shared publicly to amplify the outreach.

Khatima is a constituency in Udham Singh Nagar, the southernmost tarai district of Uttarakhand, where intensive conventional farming is widespread. Dhami has represented the Khatima assembly seat and retains a personal connection to the region's agrarian community.

Policy Backdrop

The demonstration aligns with the Government of India's Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY), launched in 2015, which promotes organic farming clusters and aims to reduce dependence on synthetic chemical inputs. Uttarakhand, with its ecologically sensitive Himalayan terrain and fertile tarai plains, has been an active participant in national sustainable agriculture frameworks.

Cow-dung manure — one of the oldest and most accessible organic inputs for Indian farmers — is central to the natural farming movement gaining traction across several states. Political leaders personally participating in farm activities have become a visible strand of state-level outreach, reinforcing policy messaging through symbolic action.

Stakeholders and Impact

Farmers in Udham Singh Nagar and broader tarai districts stand to be the primary audience of this messaging. The district is known for mixed cropping and relatively high chemical input use, making it a key target for natural farming advocacy.

By involving his mother in the activity, CM Dhami framed the gesture as a family and community value rather than a purely administrative directive — a communication approach designed to resonate with rural households accustomed to traditional farming practices. Agricultural extension workers and state agriculture department officials are expected to build on such public demonstrations in ground-level outreach.

What's Next

Observers will watch whether this public demonstration is followed by concrete state budget allocations or structured training programmes for natural farming in Udham Singh Nagar and other tarai districts. State-level schemes offering subsidies on bio-inputs or certification support for organic produce would be a logical policy follow-through.

Uttarakhand's agriculture policy direction in the coming months — particularly any announcements tied to the kharif sowing season — will indicate whether this symbolic gesture translates into measurable programmatic support for farmers choosing to reduce chemical inputs.

Point of View

Designed to humanise policy and signal cultural continuity with rural Uttarakhand. It fits a broader pattern across BJP-governed states of using symbolic agrarian gestures to reinforce alignment with national sustainable agriculture goals. The real test, however, lies in whether the optics are matched by measurable state support: subsidised bio-inputs, organic certification pipelines, or dedicated budget lines for tarai farmers. Without that follow-through, such demonstrations risk being read as seasonal symbolism rather than substantive policy intent.

NationPress

31 Jul 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What did CM Pushkar Singh Dhami do at his farm in Khatima?

CM Pushkar Singh Dhami applied cow-dung-based compost on his agricultural fields in Nagla Tarai under Khatima, Udham Singh Nagar, alongside his mother on 15 June 2026, as a public demonstration in support of natural farming.

What is natural farming and why is it being promoted in Uttarakhand?

Natural farming relies on bio-inputs such as cow-dung manure instead of synthetic chemicals, aiming to reduce soil degradation and input costs. Uttarakhand promotes it to protect its ecologically sensitive terrain and align with national organic farming schemes like the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana.

What is the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana?

The Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) is a Government of India scheme launched in 2015 to promote organic farming clusters, support traditional inputs, and reduce chemical use in Indian agriculture.

Where is Nagla Tarai and why is it significant for farming?

Nagla Tarai is a locality under Khatima in Udham Singh Nagar district, the southernmost tarai region of Uttarakhand. The district is known for intensive mixed cropping and is a priority area for natural farming outreach given its high conventional input use.

What policy steps could follow CM Dhami's natural farming demonstration?

Policy follow-through could include state budget allocations for bio-input subsidies, training programmes for farmers in tarai districts, and organic produce certification support — particularly ahead of the kharif sowing season.