In a nationwide movement towards sustainable practices, farmers across Himachal Pradesh are steadily adopting chemical-free agricultural methods. This transformation is quietly unfolding in the picturesque hill State, driven by strong government policies that prioritize both farmer well-being and environmental preservation.
Sunil Kumar, a 42-year-old farmer from Balakrupi village in Kangra district, shares his satisfaction after a successful turmeric harvest. This year, he received ₹2.25 lakh for 25 quintals of turmeric. “Previously, I sold my naturally grown raw turmeric locally for ₹60 per kilogram. This season, the State government procured it at a premium price of ₹90 per kilogram,” he explains. Having cultivated turmeric using natural farming techniques on five bighas of land, Mr. Kumar is now motivated by his recent profits to expand his turmeric cultivation to eight bighas.
Mr. Kumar, who transitioned to non-chemical natural farming three years ago after participating in the Himachal Pradesh government’s flagship Prakritik Kheti Khushhal Kisan Yojana (PK3Y), emphasizes the comprehensive benefits. “Natural farming has not only enhanced my soil and plant health but also delivered better yields and profits compared to chemical-based methods,” he adds. He now successfully grows cereals and vegetables using these sustainable practices.
The PK3Y scheme, launched seven years ago, champions non-chemical farming. To date, it has trained over 3.06 lakh farmers, with 2.22 lakh farmers—including fruit growers—now practicing natural farming partially or entirely across 38,437 hectares. An impressive two lakh farmers have also received certification through CETARA–NF (Certified Evaluation Tool for Agriculture Resource Analysis), a unique self-assessment tool designed under PK3Y to validate natural farming practitioners.
Rishu Kumari, a 37-year-old master trainer and natural farmer from Jamanabad village in Kangra district, echoes these successes. She proudly recounts selling 10 quintals of naturally grown wheat to a government agency at ₹60 per kilogram, a significant increase from the previous local market price of ₹22 per kilogram. Ms. Kumari and other women farmers in her village, who collaborate closely, are now planning to expand their wheat cultivation in the upcoming season, encouraged by the government’s assured pricing and market access.
To bolster market confidence, the Himachal Pradesh government has actively promoted natural farming by implementing a Minimum Support Price (MSP) for specific naturally grown crops. This includes maize at ₹40 per kg, wheat at ₹60 per kg, and raw turmeric at ₹90 per kg under PK3Y. Additionally, the government has announced it will procure barley from farmers in the Pangi tribal belt of Chamba district at ₹60 per kg.
Official government data reveals that since the last maize season, the State has procured 399 metric tonnes of naturally grown maize from 1,509 farmers, distributing ₹1.19 crore through Direct Benefit Transfer. Similarly, 212.3 metric tonnes of naturally grown wheat were procured from 838 farmers, with ₹1.31 crore released, which includes freight subsidies introduced in the 2025-26 State Budget.
Ms. Kumari, who also sells vegetables locally alongside other women farmers, highlights the newfound autonomy. “Natural farming has made us far more independent, significantly reducing our reliance on external markets. We can now produce all necessary inputs directly on our farms. The soil texture has dramatically improved, leading to better production, and we can cultivate multiple crops. The government’s initiative to procure maize and wheat at premium prices is a tremendous encouragement,” she states.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu emphasizes that this initiative is dedicated to fostering sustainable agriculture. “We want our people to wholeheartedly adopt natural farming because it is a truly sustainable practice. It not only safeguards the health of our farmers, who often suffer from exposure to chemical sprays, but also protects our environment and yields chemical-free, nutrient-rich crops. We have observed a concerning rise in cancer cases in Himachal Pradesh, and a decisive shift towards chemical-free farming will undoubtedly help mitigate this trend,” he affirmed.
“We have established the highest MSP in the country for naturally grown crops such as maize, wheat, raw turmeric, and barley to strongly incentivize our farmers. We are actively planning to expand this MSP coverage to include even more naturally grown crops, providing a further boost to the sector. We are confident that once farmers realize the excellent prices they can achieve, they will embrace natural farming with great enthusiasm,” Mr. Sukhu added.
The introduction of MSPs for traditionally grown natural crops is clearly encouraging farmers to embrace these practices step by step.
“Naturally, we will choose to grow crops that offer better profits. With the government now providing crucial support through MSP, a robust market for naturally grown produce will emerge. Until now, there was no distinction in pricing between natural and chemically grown produce in local markets,” noted Ramesh Chand, a farmer from Mandi district.
Natural farming fundamentally avoids the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. It champions traditional, indigenous methods centered around on-farm biomass recycling. This includes practices like mulching, utilizing cow dung and urine formulations, managing pests through biodiversity and botanical concoctions, and strictly excluding synthetic inputs. The core focus of this approach is to enhance natural nutrient cycling and boost soil organic matter, by integrating crops, trees, and livestock to maximize ecological balance and functional biodiversity.