Shimla, April 26 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Sunday virtually inaugurated and laid foundation stones of development projects worth Rs 34.31 crore of Dr Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry in Nauni in Solan district, saying natural farming is the future.

He inaugurated a hostel with a capacity of 107 students at the College of Horticulture and Forestry in Neri in Hamirpur, which was constructed at a cost of Rs 3.63 crore. Additionally, he inaugurated the administrative building of the Krishi Vigyan Kendra in Tabo in the Lahaul-Spiti district, built at a cost of Rs 1.48 crore.

The Chief Minister also laid the foundation stones for working women’s hostels with a capacity of 50 each at the College of Horticulture and Forestry in Neri and at the College of Horticulture and Forestry in Khaggal, to be built at a cost of Rs 8.57 crore and Rs 8.68 crore, respectively, in Hamirpur district. Furthermore, he laid the foundation stone for a working women’s hostel with a capacity of 100 at the main campus of Dr Y.S. Parmar University, to be constructed at a cost of Rs 11.95 crore. On the occasion, the Chief Minister said natural farming is the future of Himachal Pradesh, and the government is actively promoting it.

He emphasised that the university has a vital role in encouraging farmers to adopt natural farming practices. He said, despite the discontinuation of the Revenue Deficit Grant (RDG) by the Central government, the state is making sustained efforts to strengthen education, healthcare and the rural economy, ensuring adequate funding for these sectors.

He said more than 2 lakh farmers associated with natural farming have been registered, out of which around 1.98 lakh have already been issued certificates.

CM Sukhu said agriculture remains the backbone of the state’s economy, with nearly 90 per cent of the population residing in rural areas and about 53.95 per cent directly dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. Keeping this in view, the government is committed to implementing progressive policies and farmer-friendly initiatives to strengthen the rural economy.

The Chief Minister asserted that the state has been providing the highest minimum support price (MSP) in the country for naturally grown crops to ensure fair returns to farmers.

–IANS

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