Natural farming raises farmers’ income in, turmeric MSP brings economic relief
Munish Sood
MANDI:
The Himachal Pradesh government’s initiative to promote natural farming is beginning to show encouraging results, with farmers reporting improved incomes and reduced farming risks. The introduction of a minimum support price (MSP) for naturally grown turmeric has emerged as a significant support mechanism, particularly for farmers struggling with wildlife damage and rising input costs.
The policy aims to make farming economically viable while ensuring the supply of chemical-free, high-quality produce to consumers. By encouraging crop diversification and natural methods, the state government is seeking to revive agriculture in rural and semi-rural areas.
A clear example of this impact can be seen in Gambhar Khad village of Balh subdivision in Mandi district, where farmer Suresh Kumar has successfully returned to farming after years of uncertainty.
Suresh said he had been cultivating maize earlier, but repeated crop destruction by wild animals made farming unviable. Despite continuous hard work, he was unable to earn a sustainable income and was eventually forced to abandon cultivation, leaving his fields barren.
Last year, he came to know about “Zero Budget Natural Farming” under a project being implemented by the Agriculture Department, along with the government’s assured procurement of raw turmeric at a fixed MSP. With technical guidance from the department and 100 kg of turmeric seed supplied from Palampur, he began natural turmeric cultivation on one bigha of land.
The crop is now nearing harvest. Suresh said turmeric has proven to be a safer crop, as wild animals do not damage it, significantly reducing crop loss and anxiety. The shift has not only restored his confidence in farming but has also brought unused land back into productive use.
Encouraged by the results, he plans to expand turmeric cultivation to two bighas in the next season, citing stable returns and low input costs under natural farming practices.
MSP, market support strengthen natural farming
The state government has fixed an MSP of Rs 90 per kg for raw turmeric to promote natural farming and provide income security to growers. Officials said turmeric was identified due to its medicinal properties and rising market demand and efforts are underway to link its production with the spice and cosmetic industries.
According to the Agriculture Department, during the 2024-25 season, a total of 2.982 metric tonnes of raw turmeric was procured from 15 farmers in Mandi district at the declared MSP. An amount of approximately Rs 2.68 lakh was transferred directly into farmers’ bank accounts.
Officials said the initiative has helped farmers reduce cultivation costs, address wildlife-related challenges and adopt environmentally sustainable practices. Farmers across the district are being encouraged to shift towards natural farming and high-value crops to enhance income and long-term agricultural resilience.
