Harnessing Nature’s Bounty: Harnerd Village Sets Example in Organic Farming
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Hamirpur, Nov 02 : In a remarkable shift towards sustainable agriculture, the village of Harnerd in Hamirpur district has become a role model for natural farming. The 59 farmers of this village have committed to cultivating approximately 218 bighas (around 36 acres) without using chemical fertilizers or pesticides, relying instead on natural inputs to grow a variety of crops, including coarse grains, pulses, and oilseeds.
The shift to natural farming is part of a larger initiative led by the Himachal Pradesh government under Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. Aiming to reduce the environmental and health impacts of conventional chemical-based farming, the government has promoted organic methods through subsidies and minimum support prices (MSP) that exceed those for chemically grown crops. In response, Harnerd’s farmers have adopted a multiple-crop approach, growing maize, finger millet, mustard, and turmeric alongside traditional seasonal crops like wheat and chickpeas.
The transformation began with training sessions organized by the state’s agriculture department under the Atma Project. Progressive farmer Lalit Kalia explained that after training in organic practices, he started natural farming on four kanals of land, eventually expanding to his entire farm. Using traditional preparations like “Jeevamrit” and “Beejamrit,” Kalia and other farmers prepare natural fertilizers and pest repellents at home, ensuring that their fields remain free from chemicals.
Harnerd’s farmers are not only preserving traditional crops once on the verge of extinction but are also witnessing higher returns. In the recent Kharif season, they sold organic maize at Rs. 30 per kilogram, significantly above the Rs. 18-20 standard market rate for conventionally grown maize.
Harnerd has emerged as an inspirational model for Himachal Pradesh, demonstrating that natural farming can benefit both the environment and farmers’ livelihoods.
