Shimla, Dec 6 : Himachal Pradesh, whose economy largely banks on agriculture and horticulture, is going to promote maize flour produced through natural farming.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday said the maize flour would be marketed under the brand name 'Himbhog'.

More than 4,000 quintals of maize have been procured from 1,506 farmers practicing natural farming across the state, with the exception of Lahaul-Spiti and Kinnaur districts.

The highest procurement was done from Solan district (1,140 quintals) followed by Chamba (810 quintals) and Mandi (650 quintals), an official statement said.

He said Himachal Pradesh is the first state to offer the highest minimum support price (MSP) for wheat and maize. The government is providing Rs 40 per kg for wheat and Rs 30 per kg for maize produced through natural farming.

The government is currently promoting natural farming across 35,000 hectares, benefiting 1.98 lakh farmers.

Free certification has been provided to over 1.5 lakh farmers and an additional 36,000 farmers are being connected with natural farming.

The Chief Minister said the government has strengthened the infrastructure at 10 'mandis' to facilitate the marketing of natural farming produce so that people do not have to face any inconvenience while selling their produce.

He said the government is also focusing on linking agriculture with employment through phase three of Rajiv Gandhi Startup Yojana started with a budget of Rs 680 crore.

Emphasising the importance of agriculture and horticulture in the state's economy, the Chief Minister said about 90 per cent of population of the state resides in villages.

To strengthen the rural economy the government is introducing several initiatives, including direct monetary support to farmers.

He said the government is also purchasing cow milk at Rs 45 per litre and buffalo milk at Rs 55 per litre, along with increasing the daily MNREGA wage by Rs 60 to a historic Rs 300.

All these measures aim to improve the economic well-being of farmers and ensure farming becomes a sustainable source of income.

Interestingly, farmers in state's landlocked valleys like Pangi in Chamba district and Dodra Kwar in Shimla district have never used pesticides and fertilisers for growing crops.

Rakesh Thakur, a Dodra Kwar farmer, has been growing organic rajma (kidney beans) that command remunerative prices in the domestic market.

Most of the farmers who adopted organic farming are in the Rampur area in upper Shimla district, where pilot organic farming projects were launched in 2005.

/IANS