The Chief Minister's Office of Himachal Pradesh announced on Tuesday, 23 June 2026 that the state government is providing a minimum support price (MSP) for chemical-free agricultural produce to promote natural farming, and that directions have been issued during a review of the HP-Shiva Project to boost production of diverse fruit varieties and improve technical assistance to horticulturists.

Context

The official post, shared by the Chief Minister's Office, states: 'Prakritik kheti ko badhawa dene ke liye rajya sarkar rasayan-mukt krishi utpadon par nyuntam samarthan mulya pradan kar rahi hai' — 'To promote natural farming, the state government is providing minimum support price on chemical-free agricultural produce.' The announcement also notes that during the HP-Shiva Project review, directives were issued to encourage production of diverse fruit varieties and to make better technical support available to horticulturists.

Himachal Pradesh is one of India's foremost horticulture states, with apples and subtropical fruits forming a critical pillar of its rural economy. The state's push to link price incentives with chemical-free cultivation reflects a broader alignment of agricultural policy with sustainability and market demand for residue-free produce.

Policy Backdrop

The MSP announcement builds on the Prakritik Kheti Khushhal Kisan Yojana, launched in 2018, which was designed to scale zero-budget natural farming across the state. By attaching a price floor specifically to chemical-free produce, the government is adding a market-side incentive to what was previously a supply-side and extension-driven programme.

The HP-Shiva Project is a state horticulture initiative focused on subtropical fruit development, irrigation infrastructure, and value addition in the lower and mid-hill areas of Himachal Pradesh. The review meeting directed that fruit variety diversification and grower-level technical outreach be prioritised, signalling an intent to move beyond the dominant apple monoculture and reduce vulnerability to climate and price shocks.

Stakeholders and Impact

The primary beneficiaries are natural farmers and horticulturists across Himachal Pradesh who have already transitioned away from chemical inputs or are considering doing so. An MSP on chemical-free produce directly addresses the market risk that has historically discouraged such transitions, as growers often face price uncertainty when selling residue-free crops.

Horticulturists in lower and mid-hill zones stand to gain additionally from the HP-Shiva Project's renewed focus on diverse fruit varieties and technical support, which could open access to new crops and better cultivation practices. The broader rural economy may also benefit if reduced input costs from natural farming translate into improved farm incomes over time.

What's Next

Key details yet to be made public include the specific MSP rates for individual chemical-free produce categories and the procurement mechanism through which the price floor will be operationalised. Progress reports and any additional budget allocations arising from the HP-Shiva Project review will be closely watched by farming communities and policy observers alike.

If implemented effectively, the combination of an MSP guarantee and strengthened technical outreach under HP-Shiva could position Himachal Pradesh as a model for state-level integration of natural farming incentives with horticulture development — a template other hill states may consider replicating.