First procurement of organic maize falls short by 556 MT
In a lukewarm start to the first-ever procurement of organic maize in the state, only 202.93 metric tonnes (MT) of the crop was procured by last evening, falling short of the targeted 556 MT as the procurement phase wraps up. A total of 865 farmers, primarily from Kangra and Solan, registered for the programme, which began on October 25, under the Rajiv Gandhi Natural Farming Start-up Scheme. The initiative was aimed at providing a structured platform for selling organic maize to the state’s maize growers.
Although the scheme received positive feedback from farmers, uptake was limited. Of the seven targeted districts, Solan achieved the highest procurement at 89.87 MT, nearing but still short of its 140 MT target. Meanwhile, Kangra exceeded its procurement goal of 44 MT by reaching 48.32 MT.
However, major maize-producing districts like Sirmaur and Mandi fell significantly short of their respective targets, with Sirmaur, a high-production area, procuring only 19.64 MT against a target of 132.9 MT. Similarly, Mandi gathered just 14.2 MT from 76 growers, well below its 64.77 MT goal. Districts such as Shimla, Kullu and Chamba saw no procurement at all, and tribal areas like Lahaul Spiti and Kinnaur were not included in this initial programme.
The state’s organic maize procurement effort, part of a budgetary announcement by the government, aimed to create a market for organic produce and support sustainable farming. The total area under maize cultivation in the state spans 262.99 hectares, with a recorded production of 703.26 MT during the 2021-22 season. Despite these figures, the shift toward organic maize farming has been slow to gain traction.
The procured maize will be stored across 24 collection centres statewide, with plans to grind the maize in 14 flour mills for packaging in 1 kg and 5 kg packs, which will be distributed through fair price shops. Each participating farmer will receive Rs 3,000 per quintal for their crop, with a purchase limit set at 20 quintals per farmer. Payments to farmers will be facilitated by the HP Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department.
Narinder Dhiman, District Controller of the Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department in Solan, noted that the programme’s initial challenges reflect the need for greater awareness and acceptance among farmers toward organic farming. The government’s commitment to expanding organic farming is evident, but the current results underscore the need for further encouragement and support for farmers in shifting to organic practices.
Key statistics
Total procurement: 202.93 MT (vs 556 MT target)
Registered farmers: 865 (primarily from Kangra and Solan)
Procurement districts: 7 (Solan, Kangra, Sirmaur, Mandi, Shimla, Kullu, Chamba)
Payment: Rs 3,000/quintal (20 quintal limit/farmer)
District-wise procurement
Solan: 89.87 MT (target: 140 MT)
Kangra: 48.32 MT (target: 44 MT)
Sirmaur: 19.64 MT (target: 132.9 MT)
Mandi: 14.2 MT (target: 64.77 MT)
Challenges
Limited awareness and acceptance of organic farming
Slow transition to organic practices
Need for greater encouragement and support for farmers
