HP Sets Target, Plans to Expand Natural Farming to 30,000 Acres by FY24

Himachal Pradesh sets to bring 30,000 acres of land under natural farming. Plans to complete the target by the financial year of 2023-24. Naresh Thakur, State Project Director PK3Y has instructed officials to develop modified methods that could bring the FPOs and NGOs under certification for horticulture and agriculture produce.

Recently, the Himachal Pradesh agricultural department set a goal to convert 30,000 acres of land to natural farming within the fiscal year 2023–2024. Around 50,000 acres of land are adopted for practicing natural farming by 1.59 lac farmers, said to officials.

According to reports, Secretary of Agriculture Rakesh Kanwar instructed the Prakritik Kheti Khushhal Kisan Yojana authorities to cooperate with farmers to expand the area used for natural farming before the Kharif season.

At the review meeting for PK3Y which was conducted on Wednesday, Rakesh Kanwar instructed the officials to reach out to those farmers who are keen and are interested to know about enhanced millet production strategies and further plans for Kharif seasons. He also said that proper arrangements are to be facilitated including regulated availability of millet seeds to the required farmers.

According to him, officials should set up frequent meetings between experienced farmers and novice farmers to share knowledge and raise awareness of organic agricultural practices.

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He also added that regions, where the maximum number of people are willing to choose natural farming on their own, should be found, and a plan should be developed to designate those areas as natural villages or Panchayats.

According to him, the Yojana should focus on maximizing the natural apple production which can be advertised widely in advance to observe the response among the buyers. This would also build a marketing link among the natural producers.

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According to State Project Director, Prakritik Kheti Khushhal Kisan Yojana (PK3Y) Naresh Thakur has instructed officials to develop modified methods that could link and bring the Farm Producer Organisations (FPOs) and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) under certification for horticulture and agriculture produce.

He further added that "A mechanism should also be there to certify the processed products like ghee of a desi cow, fruit jam, etc for better marketing."

-Outlook India

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