Himachal Pradesh Sets Lab Tests for Una Maize Procurement

On 3 November 2026, the Himachal Pradesh Agriculture Department said it would procure naturally farmed maize in Una district only after laboratory tests confirm that it meets prescribed quality standards and is free from chemical residues. Samples from 15 of the district’s 87 registered farmers are to be tested at a government laboratory in Hamirpur.

Procurement conditions

Department field staff will collect samples from farms. This year, testing will be conducted at the Hamirpur government laboratory instead of a private laboratory in Mohali. Maize that fails the tests will not be purchased; quality and moisture content will also be assessed.

Procurement is expected to begin after Diwali, but its date has not been finalised. The exercise is planned at the Rampur and Takarla mandis over two days. The government will pay ₹50 per kilogram, subject to a limit of 20 quintals per farmer. The stated aim is to support farmers practising chemical-free agriculture and promote natural farming.

Important Facts for Exams

• Fukuoka principles: Fukuoka’s approach sets out five practices: no tillage, fertiliser, pesticides or herbicides, weeding, or pruning.
• Rishi Kheti inputs: In India, Rishi Kheti uses cow-derived products to prepare growth promoters and avoids chemical fertilisers and pesticides.
• Zero Budget Farming: This Indian natural-farming variant combines mulching and intercropping with preparations made on site, intended to encourage soil microbes and earthworms.