Abundant Fertilizers and Seeds, Strong Schemes and Modern Farming Lead Chhattisgarh Farmer to Prosperity

Abundant Fertilizers and Seeds, Strong Schemes and Modern Farming Lead Chhattisgarh Farmer to Prosperity 98 percent storage of fertilizers, thousands of crore assistance to farmers through DBT, horticulture, animal husbandry and fisheries progress Agriculture Minister Shri Ramvichar Netam and Agricultural Production Commissioner Shri Siddharth Komal Pardesi gave detailed information on departmental achievements Raipur, Chhattisgarh is continuously taking effective steps to make agriculture more profitable, technology based and farmer centric. Farmers are being provided with timely quality seeds and fertilizers, direct benefit transfer (DBT) for financial assistance, expansion of irrigation facilities, agricultural mechanisation, organic farming, horticulture, animal husbandry, fisheries and agricultural infrastructure development, giving a new momentum to the state's agricultural economy. Agriculture Development and Farmer Welfare, Biotechnology, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Horticulture Minister Shri Ramvichar Netam and Agricultural Production Commissioner Shri Siddharth Komal Pardesi jointly held a press conference today and gave detailed information on departmental achievements and the upcoming work plan. Present at the event were Director of the Agriculture Department Shri Rahul Dev, Director of Animal Husbandry Development Department Shri Chandrakant Verma, MD of Chhattisgarh State Seed and Agriculture Development Corporation Shri Ajay Aggarwal, Director of Horticulture Department Shri Lokesh Chandrakar, Director of Fisheries Department Shri NS Nag, MD of Chhattisgarh State Market Board Shri Mahendra Savanni, Vice Chancellor of Indira Gandhi Agricultural University Dr. Girish Chandell, Vice Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi Horticulture and Forestry University Dr. Vinita Saxena. Agriculture Development and Farmer Welfare, Biotechnology, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Horticulture Minister Shri Ramvichar Netam and Agricultural Production Commissioner Shri Siddharth Komal Pardesi again provided detailed information on departmental achievements and the upcoming work plan at the jointly organised press conference today. Minister Netam said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai, the government's top priority is to increase farmer incomes, reduce cultivation costs and make agriculture modern and sustainable. Planned work is being carried out across all agricultural sectors, and positive results are now becoming visible. Adequate availability of fertilizers and seeds Province had sufficient availability of fertilizers and seeds. In a press briefing, Agricultural Production Commissioner Shri Pardesi said that for the kharif season 2026, a target of 15.55 lakh metric tonnes of chemical fertilizers was set for April to September. By 30 July 2026, 15.16 lakh metric tonnes had been stored, about 98 percent of the target. Farmers have so far lifted 10.23 lakh metric tonnes and about 4.93 lakh metric tonnes remain available. Urea storage exceeded the target at 102 percent, and availability of DAP, NPK, MOP and SSP and all major fertilizers was ensured. The department has been taking continuous action against hoarding, illegal storage and black market activities, with 5,466 inspections by 30 July, resulting in FIRs, licence suspensions, confiscations and fertilizer seizures. For kharif 2026, about 4.95 lakh quintals of seed were demanded, and 4.85 lakh quintals of certified seed were stored, reflecting roughly 98 percent availability. Farmers' Strengthening Scheme brought significant financial power to farmers. Agricultural Production Commissioner Shri Pardesi said that under the ambitious Farmer Uplift Scheme, assistance is being directly transferred to bank accounts via DBT. From kharif 2023 to kharif 2025, about 25.52 lakh farmers received assistance of Rs 35,892.90 crore. Incentive per acre for farmers shifting from paddy to other crops was raised from Rs 11,000 to Rs 15,000. Prime Minister's Farmer Income Support Scheme benefited millions of farmers. Commissioner Pardesi said that under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, 24.63 lakh farmers in the state received more than Rs 493 crore in the 23rd instalment, and to date over Rs 11,000 crore has been disbursed. AgriStack and e-KYC have made the scheme more transparent. Agricultural share is rising, 83 percent sowing completed. This kharif, 48.69 lakh hectares were targeted for sowing, and about 83 percent is already completed. Rainfall has been above normal, keeping kharif crops in satisfactory condition. Modern farming is being promoted. Commissioner Pardesi reported that 7,745 farmers have received modern agricultural equipment and 568 farm machinery banks have been set up, benefitting small and marginal farmers. Under the Prime Minister's Agricultural Irrigation Scheme, 49,983 farmers were benefited and drip and sprinkler irrigation was expanded over 41,967 hectares with a grant of over Rs 147 crore. Organic farming also receives special promotion, with more than 57,000 farmers linked to organic farming in 2025-26. Emphasis on pulses and oilseeds. Minister Netam highlighted gains from PM Annadata Aay Suraksha Abhiyan (PM-Asha), National Food Security Mission, Self-Reliant Pulses Mission and National Mission on Edible Oil- Oilseeds, providing certified seed, training, crop demonstrations and grant‑based assistance. AgriStack gives digital agriculture a new identity. Geo‑referencing of 19,389 villages is complete and over 3.6 million farmers have been digitally enrolled. AgriStack integrates PM‑Kisan, PM‑Asha and PM Crop Insurance among other schemes, offering transparent, timely services. Horticulture expansion. In the last two and a half years, horticultural area grew from 8.42 lakh hectares to 8.91 lakh hectares. Fruit, vegetable, spice, flower and medicinal crops have expanded, with oil palm area up about 50 percent and bamboo planting up 79 percent. High‑tech nurseries, tissue culture labs, greenhouses, shade nets, pack houses and cold storage facilities are rapidly expanding, with integrated pack houses planned for Balrampur, Jashpur and a Centre of Excellence in Naya Raipur. Animal husbandry and dairy achievements. The livestock department budget has increased significantly. Milk, egg and meat production have risen continuously. After agreements between the state government, Chhattisgarh Cooperative Milk Federation and NDDB, dairy producers now receive payment every ten days. Milk collection rates have improved, and new dairy committees, chilling centers and dairy infrastructure are being expanded. Mobile veterinary units provide animal health services in remote areas. Gaushala schemes, subsidies and new gaushalas are also key achievements. Chhattisgarh joins the leading fish‑producing states. Minister Netam said that the fisheries department has promoted modern techniques such as water‑body development, cage culture, bio‑floc, pond construction and shrimp farming over the past two and a half years. Fish production has risen about 23 percent to 9.59 lakh tonnes, placing the state among the nation's top fish‑producing states. Agricultural marketing and infrastructure acceleration. Commissioner Pardesi said that 21 mandis are now linked to the National Agricultural Market (e-NAM). E‑trading has boosted inter‑state trade. Under the Agricultural Infrastructure Fund (AIF), the state achieved Rs 3,026 crore against a target of Rs 1,900 crore, a notable success. Infrastructure works costing Rs 885 crore have been approved and built in mandis and sub‑mandis for farmer convenience. The State Seed and Organic Certification Agency has linked the entire seed production process to the online portal (e‑JEEV). Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and women farmers receive 100 percent subsidy on seed certification fees, benefiting 7,510 farmers in 2025‑26. The Raipur seed testing lab earned NABL accreditation, the first such governmental lab in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, testing 15,000 seed samples in 2025‑26. In closing, Minister Netam reaffirmed the government's commitment to double farmer incomes, make agriculture more competitive and elevate the sector through modern technology and transparent governance. Commissioner Siddharth Komal Pardesi highlighted that quality seeds, adequate fertilizers, digital services, modern technology and coordinated scheme implementation are establishing new dimensions in Chhattisgarh's agricultural development.