What is the news?

 

• • In a historic decision, Himachal Pradesh has declared Pangi sub-division in Chamba district as the state’s first Natural Farming Sub-Division. This reflects a strong push towards chemical-free, sustainable farming, especially in tribal and remote areas.

 

🎯 Objective of the Move

 

• • ✅ Promote low-input, high-yield farming that is environment-friendly.
  • ✅ Empower tribal and rural farmers with better market access and institutional support.
  • ✅ Strengthen the natural ecological farming system in Himachal Pradesh.

 

🛠️ Key Provisions & Implementation Strategy

 

• 1️⃣ Formation of FPO (Farmer Producer Organization)

• • A new FPO will be established in Pangi.

 

🟢 What is FPO? An FPO (Farmer Producer Organization) is a collective of farmers that helps with:

 

• • 👨‍🌾 Joint farming, processing, and selling
  • 💰 Better bargaining power for seeds, fertilizers, and crop prices

 

2️⃣ Support for Natural Farming

• • 🛍️ Marketing and branding of natural produce
  • 📦 Grading and packaging support
  • 🚛 Improved supply chain management

 

3️⃣ ₹5 Crore Revolving Fund

 

💡 What is a Revolving Fund? A revolving fund provides reusable financial support to farmers for:

• • 🌱 Seeds
  • 🧴 Natural fertilizers
  • 🚚 Transportation and packaging

 

4️⃣ CDTRF Model Implementation

 

📘 What is CDTRF? Cluster Development through Resource Framework (CDTRF) aims to:

 

• • 👥 Build certified farmer groups
  • 📍 Implement standardized natural farming practices at the panchayat level

 

5️⃣ Large Area Certification (LAC)

 

🟠 What is LAC? Large Area Certification (LAC) is a scheme under the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) that:

 

• • 📌 Certifies entire regions as organic zones
  • 📜 Ensures compliance with organic farming standards

 

6️⃣ Minimum Support Price (MSP) for Barley

 

• • The state has announced an MSP of ₹60/kg for barley.

 

💸 What is MSP? MSP (Minimum Support Price) is a government-assured price at which crops are bought from farmers, giving them financial protection.

 

🌟 Expected Outcomes

• • 👩‍🌾 Youth Livelihoods: Encourage young people in remote areas to take up natural farming
  • 🌿 Soil Health & Biodiversity: Promote chemical-free farming
  • 🏞️ Rural Economy Boost: Generate income and job opportunities in tribal regions

 

QuizTime:

 

 

HPAS Mains Questions:

 

Model Answer:

 

• The declaration of Pangi (Chamba district) as Himachal Pradesh’s first Natural Farming Sub-Division is a strategic move toward promoting sustainable agriculture, especially in tribal and remote areas.

 

🌾 Economic Implications:

• • Reduced Input Costs: Natural farming reduces dependency on chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
  • Financial Support: ₹5 crore revolving fund empowers farmers with reusable capital.
  • Market Access: Creation of an FPO will improve market linkage, collective bargaining, and income generation.

 

🌿 Environmental Impact:

• • Soil Health: Avoidance of chemicals will enhance biodiversity and soil fertility.
  • Climate Resilience: Natural farming can mitigate the impact of climate change by promoting organic practices.
  • Large Area Certification (LAC): Encourages sustainable land use on a larger scale.

 

👥 Social & Institutional Benefits:

• • Empowerment of Tribal Communities: Encourages youth to adopt farming as a livelihood.
  • Inclusive Governance: CDTRF model strengthens local panchayat-level planning.
  • Cultural Revival: Promotes traditional and indigenous agricultural knowledge.

 

⚖️ Critical View:

• • While the initiative is praiseworthy, challenges like lack of awareness, initial yield decline, and marketing limitations must be addressed through training, MSP guarantees, and institutional handholding.

 

📌 Conclusion:

• • The Pangi model can serve as a replicable case for climate-resilient, inclusive, and sustainable agriculture, especially in hill and tribal economies.

 

 

Model Answer:

 

• The Natural Farming Initiative in Pangi embodies the spirit of decentralized governance and bottom-up agricultural reform, particularly in tribal Himachal Pradesh.

 

🌱 Grassroots Implementation:

• • CDTRF Model: Enables formation of certified farmer groups at the panchayat level, empowering local self-governance.
  • FPO Formation: Farmer-led organizations foster community leadership, joint decision-making, and collective action.
  • Participatory Guarantee System (PGS): The LAC initiative promotes peer-reviewed certification, enhancing trust and participation.

 

🧩 Decentralized Financial Mechanisms:

• • The ₹5 crore revolving fund is locally managed, ensuring flexible and need-based allocation of resources.
  • Encourages customized solutions as per regional agro-ecological needs.

 

👥 Inclusive Planning:

• • Tribal and rural farmers are directly involved in planning and execution.
  • The scheme promotes local employment, knowledge systems, and traditional practices.

 

📌 Conclusion:

• • This initiative is an example of participatory democracy in rural development, aligned with 73rd Constitutional Amendment, reinforcing the role of local bodies in sustainable agricultural governance.

 

Remember: These are just sample answers. It’s important to further research and refine your responses based on your own understanding and perspective. Read entire HPAS Current Affairs.