Focus on agriculture, tribal welfare and allied sectors; government says Bastar ready for rapid development after decline of Naxalism
Published on: March 12, 2026
By: BTNI
Location: Raipur, India
The Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly on Wednesday passed grant demands worth ₹50,537.98 crore for the departments headed by Agriculture and Tribal Development Minister Ramvichar Netam for the financial year 2026–27, reinforcing the state government’s focus on agriculture, tribal welfare and rural development.
The approved allocations include ₹7,075.90 crore for the Agriculture Department, ₹656.12 crore for the Animal Husbandry Department, and ₹110.67 crore for the Fisheries Department. In addition, ₹157.05 crore has been earmarked for Primitive Tribe Welfare, while ₹39,568.18 crore has been allocated under the Scheduled Tribe Sub-Plan (STSP).
Other major allocations include ₹1,596.89 crore for roads and bridges, ₹447.30 crore for agricultural research and education, and ₹215.69 crore for building infrastructure under the STSP. Financial assistance of ₹453.91 crore for Panchayati Raj institutions and ₹256.24 crore for urban local bodies has also been approved under the tribal sub-plan.
Replying to the discussion on the grant demands in the Assembly, Minister Netam said that agriculture forms the backbone of Chhattisgarh’s economy. “Farming is deeply rooted in our identity. Around 70–80 percent of the state’s population depends on agriculture for livelihood,” he said.
Highlighting the state’s tribal heritage, Netam said the government has established a world-class tribal museum in Nava Raipur, which is attracting researchers and experts from India and abroad. The museum showcases the contributions of tribal heroes who were often overlooked in mainstream history.
The minister also emphasized that the situation in the Bastar region has significantly improved due to sustained efforts by the state and central governments. “With the decline of Naxal activities, **Bastar is now ready to take a fast track toward development and prosperity,” he said.
Netam said the state budget for 2026–27 has been prepared around the theme of “Sankalp” (Resolve), underlining the government’s commitment to achieving developmental goals through determined action.
Discussing agricultural initiatives, he informed the House that under the state’s agricultural advancement scheme, the government is purchasing paddy from farmers at ₹3,100 per quintal. Farmers cultivating crops other than paddy are also receiving annual input assistance of ₹10,000, encouraging the cultivation of pulses and oilseeds.
“These farmer-friendly policies have transformed agriculture into a profitable occupation. As a result, the area under cultivation is increasing and farmers are becoming more prosperous,” Netam said.
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The upcoming budget also emphasizes food and nutritional security and seed self-reliance. The state government is promoting the cultivation of pulses such as lentil, tivra and gram in low-rainfall and fallow areas by supplying improved seed varieties.
The minister stressed that efforts are underway to convert single-crop farmland into double-crop areas, while the government continues to promote organic farming. Districts like Gariaband, Dantewada and Sukma have already been declared organic districts.
He also informed the Assembly that the state is working with the central government to procure mustard, arhar, moong and urad at the Minimum Support Price (MSP).
Under the National Agriculture Development Scheme, the state has allocated ₹100 crore to support farmers. In line with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government is also promoting water-efficient farming techniques under the “Per Drop More Crop” initiative.
The state government has also taken steps to strengthen allied sectors such as dairy and livestock. Netam said an MoU has been signed with the National Dairy Development Board to increase milk production in the state.
Budget provisions include ₹7.50 crore for green fodder development, ₹50 lakh for chilling plants, ₹5 crore each for pig and goat distribution schemes.
In the fisheries sector, the minister highlighted that Chhattisgarh has improved its national ranking in fish seed production from sixth to fifth place. The government has also allocated ₹3 crore for the construction of a building and hostel for a fisheries college in Rajpur village of Dhamdha.
Speaking on tribal welfare, Netam said the government has approved the construction of 167 ashram and hostel buildings in forested and tribal areas over the last two years, many of which are currently under construction.
He also announced that a 500-seat residential “Prayas School” will be established in Bijapur in the coming financial year to provide quality education to tribal students.
“The government remains committed to empowering tribal communities through the Dharti Aaba Tribal Village Utkarsh Mission, which is transforming several villages in identified regions,” he added.
During the discussion on the grant demands, several legislators including Punnulal Mohle, Vyas Kashyap, Motilal Sahu, Kawasi Lakhma, Dharamjit Singh, Janak Dhruv, Tuleshwar Hira Singh Markam, Dharamlal Kaushik, Ramkumar Yadav, Daleshwar Sahu, Kunwar Singh Nishad, Lata Usendi, Ambika Markam, Bhavana Bohra and Savitri Mandavi participated in the debate.
