SHIMLA: As many as 1,71,063 farmers have adopted natural farming covering 9,421 hectare area of the state. The state government has set a target of bringing 50 thousand acres of land under natural farming and 50 thousand farmers will be certified as natural farmers in 2022-23.
According to the state government spokesperson, special efforts are being made to make Himachal Pradesh self-sufficient in agricultural production and to improve the economy of the farmers.
Special emphasis is being laid on increasing the production of high value crops by adopting modern technologies.
About 9.44 lakh hectares of land is under cultivation in the state and it contributes about 13.62 percent of the GDP.
Prakritik Kheti, Khushhal Kisan Yojna is being implemented by the state government to encourage natural farming.
The objective of this scheme is to enhance the farmers, income by reducing the cost of crop production and to save the soil and human from the harmful effects of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Rs. 58.46 crore has been spent under this scheme till date.
Himachal Pradesh Crop Diversification Promotion Project is being implemented to promote crop diversification in the state.
In view of the successful results of JICA phase-1 in the state, JICA phase-2 has also been approved. Under this, a budget of Rs. 1010.13 crore has been proposed.
Under State Agricultural Mechanization Program, power tillers and power weeders, brush cutters, rota weeders, chaff cutters, wheat thrashers, maize shellers, crop reapers etc. are being provided to the farmers of the state on subsidy.
Rs. 74.88 crore has been spent under this program in the last four years.
Similarly under Mukhyamantri Khet Sanrakshan Yojna, for the protection of crops from stray animals, monkeys and other wild animals, 80 percent subsidy is being provided to farmers for setting up solar-powered fencing at individual level and 85 percent for group based fencing.
During the last four years Rs. 186.28 crore has been spent on this scheme and 9 thousand 846 farmers have been benefitted.
The government is also implementing Flow Irrigation Scheme, Efficient irrigation through micro irrigation, Jal Se Krishi, construction of lift irrigation and borewell scheme to provide irrigation facilities to the farmers.
