HP targets 1L new farmer registrations under Him Parivar Register

Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh agriculture department has set a target of linking one lakh additional farmers with the ‘Him Parivar Register' during the current financial year to ensure transparent and direct delivery of benefits under various govt schemes.According to the state govt, over 70,000 farmers have already been connected with the register, achieving nearly 70% of the annual target. Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has directed the officials to further expand the number of farmers benefiting from the minimum support price (MSP) scheme in the coming years. The govt spokesperson said the initiative was aimed at strengthening the rural economy by ensuring that income generated in villages circulated within local communities. The state govt has claimed that around 2.23 lakh farming and horticulture families in Himachal Pradesh had adopted natural farming either fully or partially. The practice has now reportedly expanded to 99.3% of gram panchayats across the state. In the 2026-27 budget, the govt significantly increased MSP rates for naturally grown crops. Wheat cultivated through natural farming is being procured at Rs 80 per kg, maize at Rs 50 per kg, raw turmeric at Rs 150 per kg, barley from Pangi Valley in Chamba district at Rs 80 per kg, and ginger at Rs 30 per kg. So far, the govt has procured 11,329 quintals of naturally grown produce from 7,382 farmers and transferred Rs 6.40 crore directly into their bank accounts. The agriculture department now aims to procure produce from nearly 63,000 farmers this year.