Una, February 3: In the garden of Una's Deputy Commissioner Jatin Lal's official residence, a powerful message has sprouted alongside the naturally grown vegetables. This message is about taking policies from paper to the ground and starting the change with oneself.
Jatin Lal has not only implemented Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu's vision of promoting natural farming in Himachal Pradesh through his personal example, but he has also transformed it into a living example by sowing it in the soil of his own home.
The Deputy Commissioner has grown numerous vegetables, including cauliflower, beetroot, tomatoes, radishes, onions, turnips, garlic, coriander, and potatoes, entirely through natural farming methods in his residential complex. The freshness in the soil and the earthy aroma rising from the garden beds convey the feeling that this initiative is not merely a personal experiment but also an inspiring effort to guide society through administrative leadership.
Jatin Lal says that a healthy lifestyle truly begins with what's on our plate, and poison-free farming is the best option. Food grown through natural farming is not only better for health but also far richer in taste, and that is its greatest strength. Today, there is a need to adopt this farming method as a lifestyle and promote it as a mass movement.
This story, which began in a single garden bed, connects with the efforts of farmers in recent years to make their fields poison-free.

**Himachal Pradesh Moving Towards Natural Farming**
It is noteworthy that in the past few years, under the able leadership of Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, a large number of farmers and horticulturists in Himachal Pradesh have been attracted to chemical-free farming. The positive results of the far-sighted decisions taken by the state government with the objective of strengthening the rural economy and making farmers self-reliant are now clearly visible.
The state government has paid special attention to providing farmers with opportunities for additional income, fair prices for their produce, quality seeds, expansion of irrigation facilities, crop insurance, training, and research. **Una District Emerging as a Strong Model for Natural Farming, 14,240 Farmers Adopt Natural Farming**
ATMA Project Director, Una, Pyaro Devi, stated that natural farming is being practiced on 1907 hectares of land in Una district. Out of 48,006 farmers in the district, 14,240 farmers have received training and adopted this method, strengthening their livelihoods.
She informed that the state government is also providing various types of subsidies to encourage farmers towards natural farming. Farmers practicing natural farming are provided a subsidy of Rs. 8,000 for paving the cowshed floor and constructing a pit for cow urine, and a subsidy of Rs. 750 per drum, with a maximum of Rs. 2250, for purchasing drums.
In addition, a 50 percent subsidy or a maximum of Rs. 25,000 is being provided for the purchase of indigenous breed cows. An additional amount of Rs. 5,000 is also provided for the transportation of the cow.

**Decisive Decisions on MSP Fixation for Wheat, Maize, and Turmeric Crops**
Pyaro Devi said that the state government has directly benefited farmers by fixing the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops grown through natural farming. The government has fixed the MSP for naturally grown wheat at Rs. 60 per kg and maize at Rs. 40 per kg. Farmers are also being given a transportation allowance of Rs. 2 per kg.
She informed that naturally grown maize flour is being launched in the market under the Him Bhog brand and is being made available to the general public through fair price shops, providing farmers with a guaranteed market and consumers with a healthy food option.
Furthermore, inspired by the positive response from farmers, the government has also fixed the support price for raw turmeric grown through natural farming. From this financial year, an MSP of Rs. 90 per kg is being provided for naturally grown raw turmeric, which will be launched in the market under the 'Himachal Haldi' brand. Deputy Commissioner Jatin Lal said that the district administration, following the instructions of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, is providing technical guidance, training, and financial assistance to farmers for natural farming. The biggest advantage of this type of farming is its zero-cost model, which not only increases income but also maintains soil fertility. He appealed to the people to adopt natural farming in large numbers.