Soon, organic vegetables to be sold on wheels in Shimla

Shimla: In what can be termed as ‘Natural produce on wheels’, the state project implementing unit (SPIU) of Prakritik Kheti Khushhal Kisan Yojana (PK3Y) of Himachal Pradesh government is facilitating the farmers in three blocks adjoining Shimla (Mashobra, Basantpur and Totu) sell their fresh chemical-free vegetables, fruits and some products like ghee, and pickles through mobile shops at specified spots on reasonable price.Chemical-free fresh natural produce will now be available to the consumers in the state secretariat complex in Chhota Shimla, Himachal Pradesh University campus in Summerhill and Krishi Bhawan in Boileauganj in a mobile van direct from the farmers every Friday, beginning September 15.“We will be done on a pilot basis in the state capital as the consumers want to buy chemical-free natural vegetables, fruits and other produce. Based on its success, we will have more sale spots for chemical-free natural produce in Shimla and we can then replicate it in other districts,” said state project director, PK3Y, Hemis Negi.Around 200 farmers are being involved in the process of maintaining a regular supply chain from different farmer clusters identified in three blocks of Shimla district. All farmers associated with this are certified for natural produce under a self-assessed certification process devised by PK3Y. The heads (farmers) of farmer clusters would ensure that the supply chain for fresh natural produce is maintained every week.Although farmers have been marketing their produce in their own way and the PK3Y has been working on a sustainable marketing mechanism for the farmers, the concept of facilitating the farmers sell their natural produce directly through a mobile van is being implemented for the first time.Around 1.70 lakh farmers in the state are practising this chemical-free, low-cost and environment friendly farming technique partially or fully on their fields, involving an area of over 24,000 hectares across Himachal Pradesh.