Crop Diversification, Allied Activities Key to Higher Farm Incomes: Pardeshi

Agriculture Production Commissioner Siddharth Komal Pardeshi chairs the divisional review of Kharif 2026 activities and Rabi 2026–27 preparations in Ambikapur on Thursday, October 22, 2026, alongside Divisional Commissioner Narendra Dugga and Agriculture Director Rahul Deo.Photo: primelookindia.com via CG/DPR

Agriculture Production Commissioner reviews Kharif 2026 performance and Rabi 2026–27 preparations in Surguja division, stressing timely input supply, natural farming and quality production.

Key Highlights

• Divisional meeting in Ambikapur reviews agriculture and allied departments’ progress during Kharif 2026.
• Pardeshi calls for coordinated planning to promote poultry, fisheries, goat rearing and horticulture alongside farming.
• Pulses, oilseeds, natural farming and horticultural crops identified as opportunities for diversification.
• Officials directed to promote litchi, strawberry, oil palm and potato cultivation.
• Rabi discussions cover expansion into fallow land, seed and fertiliser distribution, and reducing summer paddy acreage to zero.
• Collectors of all six districts present progress reports and seasonal plans.

Ambikapur: Agriculture Production Commissioner Siddharth Komal Pardeshi calls for crop diversification, quality production and stronger integration of farming with allied activities to increase farmers’ incomes, while chairing a divisional review meeting of agriculture and allied departments on Thursday. The meeting assessed the progress of Kharif 2026 activities and government schemes across Surguja division and discussed the action plan for Rabi 2026–27.

Coordinated Planning to Strengthen Farmers’ Incomes

District collectors, District Panchayat chief executive officers and officials of agriculture and allied departments participate in the divisional review chaired by Agriculture Production Commissioner Siddharth Komal Pardeshi in Ambikapur on Thursday, October 22, 2026. Photo: primelookindia.com via CG/DPR

Pardeshi emphasised that agricultural development must include additional sources of income through livestock, fisheries and horticulture.

“To increase farmers’ incomes, it is necessary to promote poultry farming, fish farming, goat rearing and horticultural crops alongside agriculture,” he said.

He directed departmental officers to prepare coordinated action plans and ensure effective implementation of schemes through close cooperation.

Commending the work undertaken during the Kharif season, Pardeshi said the State had performed well, with all districts of Surguja division making a commendable contribution. He asked officials to maintain the same coordination during the Rabi season and work towards achieving their targets.

Particular attention, he said, must be given to ensuring that farmers receive seeds, fertilisers and other agricultural inputs on time.

Focus on Crop Diversification and Natural Farming

Pardeshi called for the promotion of alternative and remunerative crops alongside traditional cultivation. He highlighted the considerable scope for diversification in Surguja division through pulses, oilseeds, natural farming and horticulture.

He stressed the use of improved and certified seeds, balanced fertiliser management, soil health conservation and scientific farming practices to support better-quality production.

During the review of PM-AASHA, officials were asked to ensure that more farmers benefit from the scheme. Special efforts were also sought to increase the area under mustard cultivation and improve its production.

Litchi, Strawberry, Oil Palm and Potato Cultivation Encouraged

Reviewing the Horticulture Department’s activities, Pardeshi described the division’s climatic conditions as favourable for horticultural development.

He directed officials to expand the area under crops such as litchi, strawberry, oil palm and potato. The meeting also examined opportunities to introduce horticultural crops into paddy-based farming systems.

Intercropping possibilities were discussed as part of the wider effort to diversify cultivation and strengthen farm incomes.

Livestock Health, Dairy Cooperatives and Veterinary Services Reviewed

The meeting reviewed the Livestock Development Department’s programmes, including vaccination against lumpy skin disease and peste des petits ruminants, artificial insemination and calf production.

Officials also assessed the functioning of gaudhams and gaushalas, the formation of dairy cooperative societies and services delivered through mobile veterinary units.

Veterinary doctors were directed to conduct regular animal health checks, with attention to the effective delivery of livestock health services.

Fisheries Schemes and Women’s Participation Discussed

The fisheries review covered the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, Kisan Credit Cards and registration on the National Fisheries Digital Platform.

Discussions also focused on linking Amrit Sarovar water bodies with fish farming and increasing women’s participation in fisheries activities.

Necessary directions were issued to strengthen implementation and improve coordination among the agencies concerned.

Special Action Plan for Rabi 2026–27

Through presentations, officials examined measures to bring additional Rabi fallow land under cultivation and reduce summer paddy acreage to zero.

The review covered crop-wise arrivals within the catchment areas of procurement centres under PM-AASHA, the fertiliser distribution system designated as FFS, seed distribution through SATHI-2 and foliar application of fertilisers.

Progress under the National Mission on Edible Oils–Oilseeds and the mission for self-reliance in pulses was also discussed in detail.

The deliberations brought together seasonal cultivation targets, input distribution and crop diversification priorities for the forthcoming Rabi season.

Local Resources and Innovation Must Guide Implementation

Divisional Commissioner Narendra Dugga said Surguja division was performing well in agriculture, animal husbandry, poultry, fisheries and horticulture, contributing to increased incomes for farmers.

He encouraged officials to adopt innovations suited to local resources while also drawing on traditional practices.

“Officials should adopt innovations and traditional methods in keeping with locally available resources,” Dugga said.

Six District Collectors Present Progress Reports

Collectors Ajit Vasant of Surguja, Rohit Vyas of Jashpur, Rena Jameel of Surajpur, Chandan Tripathi of Balrampur, Santan Devi Jangde of Manendragarh–Chirmiri–Bharatpur and Roktima Yadav of Korea presented their districts’ progress through PowerPoint presentations.

The meeting was attended by Agriculture Director Rahul Deo, Veterinary Services Director Chandrakant Verma, Horticulture Director Lokesh Kumar, Fisheries Director Narayan Singh Nag, Chhattisgarh Seed and Agriculture Development Corporation Director Ajay Kumar Agrawal and NABARD General Manager D. K. Gawali.

District Panchayat chief executive officers, officials of agriculture and allied departments from all districts, and other senior officers were also present.