Farmers who switch to chemical-free cultivation often face a practical question: who will buy the produce, and will they pay a fair price? Gujarat's answer in Valsad is a chain of dedicated retail points. On Tuesday, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel inaugurated the 'Prabha Natural Farming Produce Sales Centre', the first of 10 kiosks planned across the district.

Patel inspected the centre and was briefed on the products on sale. The outlet stocks naturally grown vegetables, fruits, grains and honey. It also works as a supply point for farmers, who can buy the inputs used in natural farming, such as Ghan Jeevamrut, Gomutra, Beejamrut and Jeevamrut, for use in their fields.

Closing the gap between field and shop

The centre is designed to connect farmers practising natural farming with consumers through a more organised supply chain, reducing the distance between harvest and sale. The 10 kiosks across Valsad are expected to strengthen that chain and help growers get fair prices for their produce.

Marketing has often held back natural farming. The produce is usually grown in smaller quantities, needs more careful handling and often ends up in general markets where it earns no extra price. A dedicated outlet gives these farmers their own sales channel and makes it easier for shoppers to find chemical-free food.

The centres are also meant to make consumers more aware of naturally produced food and to encourage more farmers to adopt these practices. When buyers can easily find the produce, more farmers are likely to try switching.

The Valsad kiosks are part of a wider state effort. In July, the Gujarat government decided to set up dedicated sales centres for natural farming produce at municipal corporation, municipality and taluka levels across the state. By early October, the state had expanded its natural farming produce network to 1,200 sales centres with over 100 new outlets inaugurated in Gandhinagar.

Policy support at state and national level

Gujarat has supported natural farming through financial help and training. In 2020, the state announced Rs 900 per month towards the upkeep of an indigenous cow for eligible farmers practising cow-based natural farming. It also offered support for buying kits used to prepare inputs such as Jeevamrut.

At the national level, the Centre approved the National Mission on Natural Farming in November 2024. It promotes chemical-free farming based on livestock-integrated practices and diversified cropping. The mission also aims to improve soil health, reduce cultivation costs and support ecological sustainability.

Several leaders attended the inauguration, including Finance, Urban Development and Urban Housing Minister Kanu Desai, Lok Sabha MP and Whip Dhaval Patel, Valsad MLA Bharat Patel, District Development Officer Atirag Chaplot and Superintendent of Police (SP) Yuvrajsinh Jadeja.

The real test is what happens after the inauguration. If the Valsad kiosks get steady customers and keep shelves stocked, they could give the district's natural farmers something subsidies alone cannot: a reliable buyer for their produce.