Natural Farming in Himachal Pradesh: A Policy-Driven Shift Towards Sustainable Agriculture
UPSC Relevance
Prelims: Indian Economy (Agriculture - Minimum Support Price (MSP), Farming Systems like Natural Farming, Organic Farming); Environment & Ecology (Sustainable Agriculture); Government Schemes.
Mains:
General Studies Paper 3 (Economy/Agriculture/Environment): Major crops cropping patterns in various parts of the country; Different types of irrigation and irrigation systems storage; Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation. Natural Farming is a very important and frequently discussed topic.
Key Highlights from the News
Himachal Pradesh farmers are largely shifting to Natural Farming, a chemical-free farming method.
The state government's flagship scheme, Prakritik Kheti Khushhal Kisan Yojana (PK3Y), is the main driving force behind this change.
Key Features of this Scheme:
Provides training to farmers to promote natural farming.
The government offers a high Minimum Support Price (MSP) for major crops (wheat, maize, turmeric) produced through natural farming. This provides farmers with an assured market and price.
Benefits of Natural Farming (based on farmers' experience):
Better yield and profit compared to chemical farming.
Reduced dependence on the market for chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
Improved soil and plant health.
Produces poison-free, nutrient-rich crops.
Normally, natural products do not get a special price in the mandi (market). The government introduced MSP to solve this problem. This serves as a model for other states as well.
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