Chhattisgarh Completes 97% Kharif Sowing; Sai Warns Against Lapses in Fertiliser, Seed Supply

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai (R) with Agriculture Development and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Ramvichar Netam (C) and another dignitary displaying an agriculture-related publication in Raipur. Sai has directed officials to ensure adequate availability and smooth distribution of certified fertilisers and seeds to farmers during the Kharif season-Photo Credit:primelookindia.com CG/DPR

7.40 lakh hectares covered against 48.69 lakh-hectare target; farmers receive 12.07 lakh metric tonnes of fertilisers and ₹7,778.76 crore in short-term agricultural credit

Key Factors

• 97% of Kharif sowing completed across Chhattisgarh as of August 25
• 47.40 lakh hectares brought under different crops against the target of 48.69 lakh hectares
• 12.07 lakh metric tonnes of fertilisers distributed to farmers
• 4.58 lakh quintals of certified seeds supplied
• ₹7,778.76 crore agricultural credit distributed, ₹1,328.81 crore more than the corresponding period last year
• State records 839.4 mm average rainfall, above both last year’s level and the ten-year average for the period

Raipur: Chhattisgarh has completed nearly 97 per cent of its targeted Kharif sowing, with cultivation covering 47.40 lakh hectares as of Tuesday, August 25, 2026, while Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has directed officials to ensure that farmers face no difficulty in obtaining certified fertilisers and seeds during the crucial agricultural season.

Against the state’s Kharif 2026 target of 48.69 lakh hectares, sowing of paddy, maize, kodo, kutki, arhar, moong, groundnut, ramtil and other crops has been completed across 47.40 lakh hectares, indicating that the initial phase of seasonal farm operations is approaching completion.

With agricultural activity now at an important stage, Sai has put particular emphasis on uninterrupted availability of farm inputs and adequate stocks at cooperative societies.

“Farmers must receive certified fertilisers and seeds smoothly and according to their requirements. Adequate stocks should be maintained in societies and their availability continuously monitored,” Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has directed officials.

He has also made it clear that deficiencies in the distribution mechanism will not be overlooked.

“Any negligence in the distribution of fertilisers and seeds will invite strict action,” Sai has warned.

Agriculture Development and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Ramvichar Netam is guiding the department’s monitoring of fertiliser and seed availability and other Kharif operations.

Fertiliser, Seeds and Credit Support Reach Farmers

According to Agriculture Department figures, farmers have received 12.07 lakh metric tonnes of fertilisers so far this season. The state has fixed a distribution target of 15.55 lakh metric tonnes for Kharif 2026, while 16.67 lakh metric tonnes have already been stocked through cooperative and private channels.

The 12.07 lakh metric tonnes distributed so far represents about 72 per cent of the seasonal distribution target.

Seed availability has also moved close to the requirement. Against the State Seed Corporation’s target of 4.95 lakh quintals of certified seeds, 4.80 lakh quintals have been stocked and 4.58 lakh quintals distributed to farmers, representing about 93 per cent of demand.

Farm credit has meanwhile recorded a substantial rise. Through the Kisan Credit Card system, ₹7,778.76 crore in short-term agricultural loans had been distributed by August 24.

The corresponding figure during the same period last year was ₹6,449.95 crore, meaning that farmers have received about ₹1,328.81 crore more in short-term credit this year. The state has set a target of ₹8,800 crore in agricultural credit for the current Kharif season.

Rainfall has also remained favourable at the state level. Chhattisgarh recorded 839.4 mm average rainfall up to the morning of August 25, compared with 821 mm during the corresponding period last year.

The rainfall recorded so far is also 29.2 mm above the ten-year average of 810.2 mm for the corresponding period. Chhattisgarh’s average annual rainfall is 1,246.3 mm.

With sowing now covering almost the entire targeted area, the government’s immediate challenge shifts towards maintaining adequate supplies of fertilisers and other inputs and ensuring that farmers receive timely financial and institutional support as standing crops move into the next stages of the Kharif cycle.