Mahinder Patyal
Bharmour
Suresh Kumar Thakur, President of the Apple Growers’ Association, Bharmaur, has welcomed the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu’s 2026–27 budget, describing it as progressive and beneficial for farmers, horticulturists, women, and youth. He noted that the budget gives special priority to agriculture and horticulture alongside roads, health, education, and employment generation.
Thakur praised the government’s decision to increase milk procurement prices, with cow’s milk rising from ₹51 to ₹61 per litre and buffalo’s milk from ₹61 to ₹71 per litre, saying this will directly enhance farmers’ income. He also highlighted the hike in support prices for key crops: turmeric from ₹90 to ₹150, wheat from ₹60 to ₹80, maize from ₹40 to ₹50, and organic barley from ₹60 to ₹80.
For the first time, he said, the government has taken a landmark step for sheep-rearers by raising the wool support price from ₹15–20 per kg to ₹100 per kg, which will significantly improve their earnings.
Thakur further welcomed social welfare measures such as 300 units of free electricity for poor families and the expansion of the Indira Gandhi Sukhi Parivar Yojana, under which women will receive ₹1,500 per month. Extending this scheme to one lakh women, he said, strengthens social security in the state.
Concluding his remarks, Thakur expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister, stating that the budget has been prepared with all sections of society in mind and will bring direct benefits to farmers, horticulturists, and the general public. He hoped that all announcements would be implemented effectively on the ground.
