Punjab Newsline, Shimla, December 6-
CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today here said that the state government would soon introduce maize flour produced through natural farming under the brand name ‘Himbhog’.
He said that more than 4,000 quintals of maize have been procured from 1,506 farmer families practicing natural farming across the state, with the exception of Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur districts. The highest procurement was done from Solan district (1,140 quintals) followed by Chamba (810 quintals) and Mandi (650 quintals).
He said that Himachal Pradesh was the first state in India to offer the highest Minimum Support Price (MSP) for wheat and maize. The government was providing Rs. 40 per kilogram for wheat and Rs. 30 per kilogram for maize produced through natural farming. The government was currently promoting natural farming across 35,000 hectares of land which was benefiting 1.98 lakh farmers of the state. Free certification has been provided to over 1.5 lakh farmers and an additional 36,000 farmers were being connected with natural farming.
The Chief Minister said that the state government has strengthened the infrastructure at 10 mandis to facilitate the marketing of natural farming produce so that people do not have to face any inconvenience while selling their produce.