Commissioner Shehla Nigar inspects MSP procurement, natural farming, oilseed expansion and water conservation works
Published on: December 25, 2025
By: BTNI
Location: Rajnandgaon, India
Agriculture Production Commissioner Mrs Shehla Nigar undertook an extensive tour of several villages in Rajnandgaon district to review the progress of various agriculture and allied sector schemes being implemented by the Central and State governments, along with crop diversification programmes aimed at enhancing farmers’ income and promoting sustainable farming practices.
During her visit to villages Somni, Parrikhurd, Mokhla, Janglesar and Barga, the Commissioner was accompanied by Collector Jitendra Yadav, Chief Executive Officer of District Panchayat Suroochi Singh and Divisional Joint Director of Agriculture Gopika Gabhel.
At the Somni Cooperative Society, Mrs Nigar reviewed paddy procurement operations and preparations under the PM-AASHA scheme for procurement of kharif crops such as soybean, moong, urad and arhar at Minimum Support Price (MSP). She also assessed arrangements for MSP procurement of pulses and oilseeds during the rabi season. The Commissioner directed officials to intensify awareness campaigns among farmers and ensure timely procurement, stressing that maximum farmers should benefit from the PM-AASHA scheme.
In Parrikhurd village, she reviewed activities undertaken under the crop diversification programme aimed at increasing farmers’ income. She inspected mustard cultivation over 100 acres under the National Mission on Edible Oils, along with demonstrations of tivda cultivation on 40 acres under the double-cropping area expansion programme. She also reviewed demonstrations of wheat and maize cultivation as alternatives to summer paddy. Officials were instructed to motivate farmers to adopt low-water-consuming crops and educate them about their economic benefits.
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At Mokhla village, the Commissioner reviewed activities being carried out under the National Mission on Natural Farming across a 400-hectare cluster in the district. She took stock of the preparation and distribution of bio-inputs by Krishi Sakhis, including Mrs Neeta Devnath Sahu and her team, payment of honorariums to Krishi Sakhis, soil sample collection and distribution of Soil Health Cards to farmers. She directed officials to continue these activities during the rabi season as well.
In Janglesar village, Mrs Nigar inspected horticulture crops being cultivated in place of summer paddy. She interacted with farmer Daultaram Sahu, who has taken up cucumber and coriander cultivation on six acres, and farmer Devram Patel, who is cultivating popcorn maize on 17 acres under contract farming. She appreciated their efforts and encouraged other farmers to adopt similar diversification models.
Under the Mission Jal Raksha programme, the Commissioner also visited Barga village, where she reviewed community-led water conservation works such as recharge shafts, injection wells and lined farm ponds. Praising the innovative efforts of villagers, she commended the District Panchayat team for effective implementation of water conservation initiatives.
Senior officials from agriculture and allied departments, including Deputy Director Agriculture Tikam Singh Thakur, Deputy Director Veterinary Services Dr Anup Chatterjee, Assistant Director Horticulture Ravindra Mehra, Assistant Director Fisheries Sudesh Sahu, APO MGNREGA Faiz Menon, Sub-Divisional Agriculture Officer Santalal Deshlahre, Senior Agriculture Development Officer Avinash Dubey, Rural Agriculture Extension Officer Yazvendra Katre and other officials were present during the visit.
