Natural farming tag: Import, sale of chemical fertilisers banned in Pangi

A government-appointed panel has found Pangi valley in Chamba district to be nearly chemical-free, paving the way for the state’s ambitious goal to transform the valley into a fully natural farming subdivision.

Following the findings, the State Project Director of Prakritik Kheti Khushhal Kisan (PK3Y), in a letter to the local authorities, has directed to ensure strict restriction on import, sale and distribution of chemical fertilisers and pesticides in the subdivision as the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) is currently in a process to prepare a comprehensive action plan and operational guidelines to implement the scheme at the grassroots level.

The directive has been sent to all agencies operating through Chamba, Lahaul-Spiti and Kullu districts. It is worth mentioning that representatives of all 19 panchayats of the Pangi subdivision in August 2023 had submitted a resolution to the state government through Resident Commissioner expressing their collective willingness to shift to natural farming and completely do away with chemical inputs in agriculture and horticulture.

Acting on this initiative, the state government had constituted a high-level committee under the chairmanship of the Principal Scientist of State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) PK3Y, which visited Pangi in to evaluate on-ground practices. While their initial report indicated that only 15 per cent of the area was under natural farming, subsequent surveys revealed that the valley was largely free from chemical usage by default, owing to its remoteness and traditional agricultural practices.

Later, in an announcement made on Himachal Day, April 15, 2025, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had officially declared Pangi valley as the first Natural Farming Subdivision in Himachal Pradesh. To support the transition, he had also announced a revolving fund of Rs 5 crore and the provision of minimum support price (MSP) on procurement of barley in the region.

Following this declaration, a second field committee led by the Deputy Director (PK3Y) carried out a detailed survey from May 14 to 18, 2025. Their findings corroborated the near-absence of chemical inputs in the valley’s farming ecosystem, reinforcing the viability of implementing full-scale natural farming practices.

The official notification declaring Pangi Subdivision as a Natural Farming Subdivision was issued by the Agriculture Department on June 26, 2025, under which a complete restriction has been placed on the import and usage of synthetic chemicals, including in animal and poultry feed.

Himachal Tribune