Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday launched the registration form for farmers to sell raw turmeric cultivated through natural farming practices at a Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 90 per kilogram. The move, part of 2025-26 Budget announcements, is a significant push to boost rural incomes and promote chemical-free agriculture in the state.
Under this initiative, the Agriculture Department will oversee farmer registrations and offer training in natural farming techniques. The procured turmeric will be processed at the soon-to-be-established Spice Park in Hamirpur and sold under the new brand “Himachal Haldi”, giving it both market value and regional identity.
“For the first time, government agencies will directly procure raw turmeric from farmers. This step will prove to be a game-changer for rural livelihoods, offering immediate cash flow and market assurance,” said the Chief Minister. He added that the state is also procuring naturally-grown wheat at Rs 60 per kg and maize at Rs 40 per kg, while milk procurement rates have been hiked significantly — cow milk at Rs 51 per litre and buffalo milk at Rs 61 per litre.
Currently, turmeric is cultivated across 2,042.5 hectares in Himachal Pradesh, producing nearly 25,000 metric tonnes annually. Major turmeric-producing districts include Hamirpur, Kangra, Bilaspur, Sirmaur, Mandi, and Solan. With its high medicinal value, increasing demand, and resistance to wild animals, turmeric has emerged as a sustainable and profitable crop, especially in the post-COVID era.
Govt to Strengthen HPSEBL; Uhl Project Nears Inauguration
In a move to reinforce the power infrastructure in Himachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday reiterated his government’s commitment to strengthening the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited (HPSEBL). He announced that large-scale recruitment of field staff would be undertaken to ensure better electricity services across the state.
Sukhu, presiding over a review meeting of the Energy Department, lauded HPSEBL employees for their consistent service delivery and instructed that officers currently on deputation to other power bodies be given an option for permanent absorption in their respective organisations by April 30. The remaining vacancies, he said, will be filled on a priority basis to boost operational efficiency.
Highlighting major developments, Sukhu informed that the much-delayed 100 MW Uhl Phase-III hydro power project will be formally inaugurated soon. The project, which had stalled due to a penstock burst in 2020, was revived with Rs 185 crore in financial support under the current government. Since its commissioning, the plant has already generated 2.97 crore units of electricity.
Initiated in 2003, Uhl Phase-III has taken 22 years to complete and is now poised to become a major revenue generator. Once fully operational, it is expected to produce 392 million units annually, contributing nearly Rs 200 crore in revenue to the state exchequer.
