Daijiworld Media Network – Chandigarh

Chandigarh, Jun 6: In a major step towards promoting sustainable agriculture, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Thursday announced the establishment of dedicated natural and organic markets in Gurugram and Hisar. The announcement was made during the Natural Farming Conference organised at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, on the occasion of World Environment Day.

The Gurugram market will focus on natural and organic wheat, paddy, and pulses, while the Hisar market will specialise in fruits and vegetables grown using eco-friendly methods. To ensure fair pricing for such produce, the government will form a committee under the Haryana Kisan Kalyan Pradhikaran.

To further support natural farming, CM Saini announced a financial grant of Rs 20,000 per farmer for branding and packaging of organic products. He also revealed plans to establish dedicated laboratories for free testing of naturally grown produce, boosting transparency and consumer trust.

In a significant move to empower landless farmers, the Chief Minister declared that 10% of panchayat land or at least one acre in every village would be reserved for natural farming. This land will be allotted through auctions exclusively to farmers without land holdings. Additionally, 53 acres of land under the Agriculture Department in Kaithal's Pundri block will also be leased to natural farmers via auction.

As part of the Natural Farming Scheme, the state will provide Rs 3,000 to farmers practicing organic farming on government or panchayat land to help them purchase drums for storing raw materials. A subsidy of Rs 30,000 will also be given to encourage the purchase of indigenous (‘desi’) cows, which are vital to the natural farming process.

CM Saini highlighted the global urgency of addressing air, water, and soil pollution, and positioned natural farming as a sustainable solution that can guide not only Haryana’s agricultural future but also inspire nationwide transformation.