As Chhattisgarh celebrates its silver jubilee year marking twenty five years of statehood, the upcoming Rajyotsav 2025 will showcase a defining segment dedicated to agriculture. The Agriculture Pavilion will reflect the state’s remarkable journey from a primarily subsistence driven agrarian economy to an innovation oriented, technology powered model of rural prosperity. Visitors will experience a visual chronicle of the state’s progress, from the first seeds of reform in 2000 to the thriving fields of 2025.
Toward Green and Chemical Free Agriculture
Recognized nationwide as the “Rice Bowl of India,” Chhattisgarh’s agricultural success has stemmed from a combination of robust policy and progressive farmers. The government’s multipronged strategy includes the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, the Crop Insurance Scheme, and extensive water conservation and micro irrigation initiatives such as PMKSY and Per Drop More Crop. Under the innovative Drone Didi Campaign, the use of nano urea and nano DAP is being promoted to counter fertilizer shortages. The PM PRANAM Program encourages organic and bio fertilizer use while reducing dependence on chemical inputs, steering farmers toward sustainable, toxin free cultivation.
Expanding Incomes and Irrigation
Through cooperative societies, farmers now access zero interest loans and better procurement systems under fair support price mechanisms, ensuring higher returns than in most Indian states. From a total cultivated area of 54.08 lakh hectares in 2000, the state’s acreage has grown to 67.27 lakh hectares by 2025. Paddy cultivation now spans 39.81 lakh hectares, while both rabi and kharif production have multiplied exponentially, raising per hectare yields nearly threefold. The area under assured irrigation has almost doubled to 18.92 lakh hectares, marking a significant leap in agricultural infrastructure.
Farmers, Institutions, and Innovation
Over 40.11 lakh farming families now depend on agriculture for livelihood, compared to 32.55 lakh in 2000, a testament to expanding rural employment and inclusivity. The state’s network of fertilizer quality control laboratories has grown from one to eight, and soil testing facilities now number thirty six, ensuring high quality inputs and accurate soil health management. Agricultural research and education have also flourished, with one agricultural university that once housed a single college now overseeing thirty nine colleges, including institutions in agricultural engineering and food technology.
Chhattisgarh’s agricultural success story is rooted in innovation with continuity, blending traditional wisdom with scientific precision. As the state steps into its twenty fifth year of creation, its fields narrate a story of resilience, reform, and renewal, a testament to farmers who have turned the soil of a young state into the seedbed of a self reliant future.
