He reiterated that the state government remains committed to supporting farmers and orchardists through technical guidance, capacity building, quality improvement, better agricultural infrastructure, marketing assistance, and export facilitation. These initiatives, he said, are aimed at making horticulture more profitable, modern, and globally competitive.

Citing the Gazette Notification issued on March 26, 2026, Bindal said excise duty on petrol has been reduced from ₹13 per litre to ₹3, while diesel has been brought down from ₹10 per litre to zero. He termed the decision “historic and people-centric,” stating that it would directly benefit nearly 1.4 billion citizens and help ease inflationary pressure across sectors.

Raising concerns over the proposed entry tax, Dr. Bindal warned that it could adversely affect residents living in border areas and disrupt trade and tourism activities. He also cautioned that higher fuel prices in Himachal compared to neighbouring states could encourage illegal fuel trade, potentially leading to the rise of a “fuel mafia.

The Minister directed the officers to explore the possibility of making payments to orchardists and farmers through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) under the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS), so as to ensure greater transparency in the payment process.

Congratulating the people of the State on the occasion, he recalled the immense contributions of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and the first Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Dr. Y.S. Parmar, in securing statehood for the State.

He further stated that salaries of officers and employees posted in Zila Parishads under MNREGA have also been discontinued, which would adversely impact the effective implementation of the scheme.

To strengthen market linkages, natural farming products have been launched under a dedicated brand. Maize flour was being marketed as ‘Him Bhog Makki’, wheat products as ‘Him Chakki Atta’ and ‘Him Daliya’ and raw turmeric as ‘Him Haldi’, providing farmers better market access and recognition.

Katwal termed the present Congress government as the most inefficient and directionless government in the history of Himachal Pradesh. Recalling a statement of former Chief Minister late Virbhadra Singh, he said that even Virbhadra Singh had warned that if power goes into the hands of Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, darkness will prevail in the state — a prediction that has now clearly come true.

 Sukhu emphasized that the disease was spreading rapidly and causing financial losses to the growers and it was imperative to address the situation swiftly. He asked the Vice Chancellor to submit detailed report to the state government within seven days so that the appropriate measures could be taken at the earliest.

He also suggested the formation of cooperative societies by apple growers on the lines of European models to strengthen collective bargaining and market presence. To ensure smooth transportation during the peak season, the Minister emphasized the need to devise an efficient police Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for traffic management.