The prosperity of farmers is our resolve: Chhattisgarh’s food providers will be empowered through innovation and technology – Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai

Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai virtually inaugurated the Agri-Horti Expo and Buyer-Seller Conference

Raipur 28 June 2025: Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai today virtually inaugurated the Agri-Horti Expo and Buyer-Seller Conference under the Krishi Kranti Abhiyan from the Chief Minister’s Camp Office located at Bagiya in Jashpur district. Many major agricultural companies of the country like Jio Mart Retail, Dehat, Honest Farm, Atmakur, Dharagri, Avni Ayurveda etc. will be present in this two-day event in the District Panchayat premises. Through these companies, the farmers of the district will be able to enter into crop sale contracts to get a fair price for their produce through FPO. With the end of the middleman practice, the farmers will get the right price for their hard work.

On this occasion, the Chief Minister said that the Chhattisgarh government is determined for the prosperity of the farmers. By adopting the latest technology, the food providers of Chhattisgarh will be more economically empowered. He said that today is going to prove to be a milestone in the history of agricultural development of Jashpur. The ‘Krishi Kranti’ campaign is being started with the innovative efforts of the district administration. Our country is an agricultural country and about 80 percent of the people in Chhattisgarh are engaged in agriculture and related work. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Central Government is running many important schemes including Crop Insurance Scheme, PM Kisan Samman Nidhi to increase the income of farmers. Whether it is the purchase of 21 quintals of paddy per acre at the rate of Rs 3100 per quintal at the support price, collection of forest produce at the support price or schemes related to processing and export, our government is making multi-level efforts to increase the income of farmers. Chief Minister Sai said that jackfruit, mango, litchi, pear are produced in abundance in Jashpur. Apple cultivation has also started here. Through this conference, direct communication will be established between farmers and buyer companies. This is a platform where direct market will be available to the farmers’ produce through FPO (Farmer Producer Organization), which will eliminate the role of middlemen and farmers will be able to get fair price for their produce. Explaining the importance of Soil Health Card, Chief Minister Sai said that it gives information about which crop will be produced more on which land and how much amount of fertilizer will be required. For this, agricultural scientists from the Center are going to the entire state and making people aware about soil health. Along with agriculture, animal husbandry, fish farming and dairy development are also being encouraged in the state. Jashpur is also included in the six districts selected under the pilot project of Dairy Development Scheme. MP Radheshyam Rathia, who joined virtually from Raigarh, said that the natural environment of Jashpur district is very attractive. Emphasizing the importance of water conservation and promotion, he said that conservation of water is mandatory, which will benefit the farmers and increase their income. MLA Raimuni Bhagat, who joined virtually from the District Panchayat, said that Jashpur district is rapidly adopting innovation. Through this conference, there will be a direct contract between farmers and companies, which will definitely benefit them. District Panchayat Chairman Salik Say said in his address that if farming and management is done in a systematic manner in the district, then farmers will definitely get benefits. Jashpur is a leader in the production of mango, chilli and pear. He emphasized on encouraging the cultivation of pulses and oilseeds along with paddy. Collector Rohit Vyas gave detailed information about the importance of Agri-Horti Expo and Buyer-Seller Conference and the benefits to farmers from it. District Panchayat CEO Abhishek Kumar, who was virtually connected to the District Panchayat, gave information about the innovations and various programs to be held under the conference through a video presentation. On this occasion, IG Deepak Kumar Jha, Superintendent of Police Shashi Mohan Singh, Municipal Council President Arvind Bhagat, District Panchayat President Ganga Ram Bhagat along with officers and employees were present.

Information about advanced technologies will be available in Agri-Horti Expo and Buyer-Seller Conference With the aim of giving information about advanced technologies to the farmers through the conference, representatives of organizations like NABARD and APEDA will be present and will give information to the farmers on topics like agriculture marketing, certification of bio products etc. Senior scientists of the state will give information about GI tag of crop varieties, scientific farming of agricultural and horticultural crops and silk experts will give information about silk rearing. Also, a discussion will be organized between the company and farmers on contract farming, in which contracts will also be signed between the company and the farmers. A crop exhibition has also been organized in the program, in which farmers and progressive farmers associated with the FPO of the district will display their crops like organic paddy, kutki, ragi, pear, litchi, ramtil, tau, chilli, aromatic paddy etc. on the basis of variety-wise quality. Mango and pear and innovation competition have also been organized under the program. The winning farmers will be encouraged for innovation and progressive farming in the future by presenting them prize money.