Aimed at promoting natural farming across Himachal Pradesh the state government has unveiled a new initiative, the HIM-UNNATI scheme, with an allocation of Rs 150 crore.

A government spokesperson said here on Friday that this scheme will bolster the efforts of approximately 1.92 lakh farmers already practising chemical-free farming on over 32,149 hectares of land.

“The program will focus on making the agriculture sector economically viable through a cluster-based development model and promoting natural farming. Under HIM-UNNATI, the government will consolidate smallholding farmers to enable bulk production, ensuring a sufficient marketable surplus,” he said.

The 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, he added.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said: “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. Additionally, it is anticipated to increase productivity by 15-20 percent in vegetables and cereals in the state.”

The HIM-UNNATI scheme includes 100 percent soil test-based nutrient management to enhance soil productivity, the promotion of high-end product cultivation, and support for traditional crops and millet procurement.

The government has earmarked Rs 50 crore for the current fiscal year 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. This initiative aims to encourage chemical-free farming and foster agricultural entrepreneurship in the state” said the Chief Minister.

The HIM-UNNATI scheme represents the third phase of the Rajiv Gandhi Start-up Yojana, further incentivizing natural farming practices, said Sukhu.

The government also plans to certify 15,000 acres of land as natural farming land through a dedicated web portal, he said, adding that additionally, over 1.41 lakh farmers have already been certified under the Certified Evaluation Tool for Agriculture Resource Analysis (CETARA NF) system.

Natural farming has seen growing popularity in Himachal Pradesh, particularly among women farmers who have shown leadership in adopting these sustainable practices.

“HIM-UNNATI scheme will provide essential capacity-building training and financial assistance to strengthen the farming community’s economy and contribute to the state’s goal of self-reliance,” said the Chief Minister.