Himachal Pradesh Rolls Out Rs 150 Crore Him-Unnati Scheme to Foster Natural Farming

The Himachal Pradesh government has introduced a new initiative, Him-Unnati, to promote natural farming across the state, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu announced on Friday. With a budget of Rs 150 crore, this scheme aims to support around 1.92 lakh farmers who are already practising chemical-free farming on over 32,149 hectares of land.

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Cluster-Based Development Model

The programme will focus on making agriculture economically viable through a cluster-based development model and promoting natural farming. The government will consolidate smallholding farmers to enable bulk production, ensuring a sufficient marketable surplus. This initiative will also integrate various ongoing agricultural schemes and coordinate with departments such as Animal Husbandry, Horticulture, Fisheries, and Rural Development to maximize the scheme's impact.

Support for Marginal Farmers

Chief Minister Sukhu stated that the scheme would particularly benefit small and marginal farmers, women farmers, and those from weaker sections of society, including Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and Below Poverty Line (BPL) families. The scheme is expected to generate self-employment opportunities for approximately 50,000 farmers through the creation of 2,600 focused agricultural clusters.

Financial Allocation and Assistance

For the current fiscal year, the government has earmarked Rs 50 crore to establish 10 new Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) and an additional Rs 10 crore for assistance with wire mesh and barbed wire. "As part of our commitment to promote natural farming, the state government will procure up to 20 quintals of naturally grown grains per family at a rate of Rs 40 per kg for wheat and Rs 30 per kg for maize," said the Chief Minister.

Capacity Building and Training

The scheme will provide essential capacity-building training and financial assistance to strengthen the farming community's economy. This initiative aims to contribute to the state's goal of self-reliance by encouraging chemical-free farming and fostering agricultural entrepreneurship in Himachal Pradesh.

The programme is anticipated to increase productivity by 15-20 percent in vegetables and cereals in the state.