PROBLEMS AND ISSUES OF AGRICULTURE IN

CHHATTISGARH

SUBMITTED TO:

Dr. Eritriya Roy

(Assistant Professor, Economics)

SUBMITTED BY:

Ayush Kabra

Roll No. - 49

Semester – 2nd

Section - A

B.A. L.L.B (Hons.)

SUBMITTED ON:

6 February, 2020

HIDYATULLAH NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY, ATAL NAGAR, RAIPUR,

CHHATTISGARH
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First & foremost, I would like to thank my Faculty of Economics Dr. Eritriya Roy for giving me
opportunity to work on this project named “PROBLEMS AND ISSUES OF AGRICULTURE
IN CHHATTISGARH”. Her guidance and support has been instrumental while making my
project on this important issue.

I would also like to thank all authors, writers, columnists and social thinkers whose ideas and
works have been made use of in my Project. My heartfelt gratitude also goes to all staff and
administration of HNLU for the infrastructure in the form of our library and IT lab that was a
great source of help in the completion of this Project.

I also thank my friends for their precious inputs which have been very useful in the completion
of this Project.

I would also like to thank my parents, my seniors, dear colleagues and friends in the University,
who have helped me with ideas about this work. I hope you will appreciate my true work which
is indeed a hard work and a result of my true research and work.

Ayush Kabra
Roll No. - 49
Section – A
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT...........................................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................................4
OBJECTIVE................................................................................................................................................5
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY................................................................................................................5
NATURE OF RESEARCH.....................................................................................................................5
MODE OF CITATION...........................................................................................................................5
SOURCES OF DATA COLLECTION...................................................................................................5
CHAPTERIZATION...................................................................................................................................6
CHAPTER 1 AGRICULTURE IN CHHHATTISGARH...........................................................................6
LAND UTILIZATION IN CHATTISGARH..........................................................................................8
GROSS AREA UNDER PRINCIPAL CROPS.......................................................................................8
CHAPTER 2 MAJOR CROPS OF CHHATTISGARH–AREA, PRODUCTION & YIELD......................9
CHAPTER 3 PROBLEMS FACED BY FARMERS OF CHHATTISGARH...........................................11
1. MEANINGLESS CROP INSURANCE............................................................................................11
2. AGRICULTURAL CREDIT.............................................................................................................12
3. LOW MINIMUM SUPPORT PRICE (MSP)....................................................................................14
4. DEPENDENCY ON MONSOON.....................................................................................................14
5. LACK OF ORGANIZATION OF AGRICULTURAL MARKETING............................................15
6. FARM INPUT: REQUIREMENTS, AVAILABILITY & PRICE.....................................................15
7. AGRICULURAL LABOUR AND WAGES RATES........................................................................16
8. FARMERS SUICIDE........................................................................................................................16
9. DISGUISED EMPLOYMENT..........................................................................................................16
CONCLUSION.........................................................................................................................................17
REFERENCES..........................................................................................................................................18
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INTRODUCTION

Agriculture is the art and science of cultivating the soil, growing crops and raising livestock. It
includes the preparation of plant and animal products for people to use and their distribution to
markets.1 Over centuries, the growth of agriculture contributed to the rise of civilizations.

Before agriculture became widespread, people spent most of their lives searching for food—
hunting wild animals and gathering wild plants. About 11,500 years ago, people gradually
learned how to grow cereal and root crops, and settled down to a life based on farming.

By 2,000 years ago, much of the Earth’s population had become dependent on agriculture.
Scholars are not sure why this shift to farming took place, but it may have occurred because of
climate change.

When people began growing crops, they also began herding and breeding wild animals.

The state of Chhattisgarh is the one of the states created in the 2000s out of the other three.It was
carved out of Madhya Pradesh. Agriculture is counted as the chief economic occupation of the
state. In the state, various crops are grown. About 80% of the population of the state is rural and
the main livelihood of the villagers is agriculture and agriculture-based small industry.

The main crops are rice, maize, kodo-kutki and other small millets and pulses (tuar and kulthi);
oilseeds, such as groundnuts (peanuts), soybeans] and sunflowers, are also grown. Chhattisgarh is
also known as the “RICE BOWL OF CENTRAL INDIA”. The major crop grown here is the
rice that why known as mentioned above.

The farmers finds many problems ranging from availability of loan at high interests, dependency
on monsoon, use of low yielding seeds, low MSP, suicide of farmers due to debts and many
others.

1
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/agriculture/
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OBJECTIVE

This project discusses the problems and issues faced by the farmers of the Chhattisgarh. Every
problem has been emphasized also the proper solutions is provided to tackle it.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

NATURE OF RESEARCH

The Research project is descriptive in nature .Neither there is use of plagiarized material nor
there is any violation of Copyright. Websites and articles has been also referred

MODE OF CITATION

A uniform mode of citation (MODERN LANGUAGE ASSOCIATION) has been adopted and
followed consistently throughout this paper

SOURCES OF DATA COLLECTION

Since primary sources of data are quite inaccessible to trace hence secondary sources of data has
been used which includes books, journals, online publications etc.
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CHAPTERIZATION

CHAPTER 1 AGRICULTURE IN CHHHATTISGARH

The total geographical area is around 137.90 lakh ha. of which cultivable land area is
46.77 lakh ha , forest land area is 63.53 lakh ha with more than 2.55 crore
population.2

About 80 percent of the population in the state is engaged in agriculture and 43

percent of the entire arable land is under cultivation.

Paddy is the principal crop and the central plains of Chhattisgarh are known as rice
bowl of central India.

Other major crops are coarse grains, wheat, maize, groundnut, pulses and oilseeds.
The region is also suitable for growing mango, banana, guava & other fruits and
a variety of vegetables   with 44 percent of its area under forests it has one of
the richest bio-diversity areas in the country.

It has abundant minor forest produce like Tendu leaves, Sal seed, etc. Medicinal
plants, bamboo, lac and honey are other potential money earners for the state.

Chhattisgarh has embarked on a concerted plan to increase double cropped areas,

diversify the cropping pattern and improve incomes from agro-based small-scale
enterprises. In order to unlock the true potential of agriculture sector in the state,
government is paying special attention towards better management of its water
resources. To reduce the farmers dependence on rainfall, government is working
towards increasing the irrigation potential of the state. It is estimated that

2
http://chtenvis.nic.in/Agriculture.html
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approximately 14.15 lakh hectares can be potentially irrigated covering 30 percent of

the entire cropped area in the state.
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LAND UTILIZATION IN CHATTISGARH

(As per village records)

SNo. Information (As per 2018-19) Statistics  (Thousand Hectare)

1. Total Geographical Area 13790
2. Forest Area (Incl. Revenue Forest) 6315
3. Land not available for cultivation 1029
4. Culturable fallow and Un-culturable land 1239
5. Permanent Pastures and other Grazing land 887
6. Land under misc. tree crops 1
7. Land available for cultivation 351
8. Fallow Land 525
9. Land Other than current Fallow(2-5 Years) 258
10. Current fallow Land 267
11. Net Area Sown 4681
12. Area Sown more than once 1047
13. Gross Cropped area 5728

GROSS AREA UNDER PRINCIPAL CROPS

S.no. Crops (As per 2018-19) Statistics  (Thousand Hectare)

1. Cereals 4395
2. Pulses 853
3. Fruits and Vegetables 137
4. Condiments and Spices 15
5. Sugar-cane 29
6. Other Food Crops 2
7. Oil Seeds 291
8. Fiber Crops 3
9. Other Non Food Crops 2

Source: http://descg.gov.in
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CHAPTER 2 MAJOR CROPS OF CHHATTISGARH–AREA,

PRODUCTION & YIELD

The various crops are grown by the cultivators in Chhattisgarh -The rice (68.8%) was found to
be major crop of the state. The cultivators are also found to be grown tiwra (6.5%), gram (4.6%),
paddy (2.6%), kodo-kutki (2.3%) and wheat (1.9%). The maize, urad, niger, soybean, arhar,
mustard, kulthi, alsi, groundnut, til, masoor, pea, mooing, moong, juwar, urad, sunflower, kulthi
and safflower are also grown in small proportion by the cultivators in the state.

Horticulture is growing popularity owing to the high value of horticulture produces than
agriculture crops. However, there needs to be a greater impetus in boosting the irrigation
resources of the state and in promoting horticulture in intensive mode in the state. According to
the old and existing data, a brief analysis is made on the status of Horticulture in the state which
is furnished below. However, fresh efforts are being made to generate and compile statistical
data through systematic data collection on Horticulture crops in the state.

A. Fruit Crops - The major fruit crops grown in Chhattisgarh state are Mango, Guava, Lime,
Litchi, Cashew-nut, Cheku etc., apart from these major fruit crops minor fruits like Sitafal, Bael,
Ber, Anola etc., are also grown both as cultivated and wild crop. The total area of the fruit crops
in the state is 2,56,776 Ha. along with the production of 25,42,241 MT in the year 2018-19. Agro
climatically Mango can be grown in the whole part of the state successfully while the northern
hilly area of Sarguja and Jashpur district is suitable for production of Litchi. Cashew nut can be
grown well in the plateau region of the Bastar & Raigarh district

B. Vegetables - Mostly all vegetable crops like Solaneious crops, Cucurbits, Beans, Cabbage,
Cauliflower etc., are grown very well in the state. The total area of vegetable crops in the state
was recorded 4,91,214 Ha. in the year 2018-19 with the production of 68,90,529 MT.
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C. Spices - Chili, Ginger, Garlic, Turmeric, Coriander & Methi are the major spices grown in the
state. The total area of spices recorded in year 2018-19 was 93,588 Ha. with the production of
6,59,250 MT.

D. Flowers - Area under flower cultivation is negligible in the state. With the formation of new
state the demand of flowers is increasing day-by-day, to meet out the growing demand of flowers
it is essential to promote commercial floriculture among the farmers. The major flowers like
Marry-gold, Tuberose, Gladiolus, Roses, Gaillardia, Chrysanthemum, Orchids etc., can be grown
very well without much care. The present area under floriculture in the state is 14,008 Ha. with
the production of 74,609 MT. approximately in the year 2018-19.3

E. Aromatic & Medicinal Plants - The medicinal crops grown in the state are Ashwagandha,
Serpagandha, Satawar, Butch, Aonla, Tikhur etc. Some aromatic crops like Lemongrass,
Pamarosa, Jamarosa, Patchauli, E.citridora are promoted by the department for commercial
cultivation among farmers. The present area of aromatic and medicinal crops in the state is 8865
Ha. with the production of 58,013 MT in the year 2018-19.

3
https://agriportal.cg.nic.in/horticulture/HortiEn/Default.aspx
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CHAPTER 3 PROBLEMS FACED BY FARMERS OF CHHATTISGARH

In the state of Chhattisgarh, farmers are facing many problems from lack of tubewells,
dependency on monsoon, inadequate MSP, agricultural debts which causes them to do suicide.

There is discussion of every problems mentioned above in details.

1. MEANINGLESS CROP INSURANCE

Generally farmers insure their crops but insurance companies and the government fails to
provide the insurance. Often the insurances are delayed over years. Small farmers are suppressed
by the government officials and the insurance companies. Hence a large number of farmers
which are small and have low land remains affected.

PMFBY And RWBCIS For Kharif 2016 & 2017

Area
Farmers Sum
Insured Farmers
Insured Insured Farmers Gross Claim
Year State (In State GOI Benefitted
(In (In Rs Premium Premium Paid
million (In Million)
Million) Crore)
ha)
Chhattisgar
1.4 2.2 6681 127 72 72 271 133 0.09
201 h
6 659
All India 40 37 131117 2918 6764 16275 10424 25
2
Chhattisgar
1.3 1.9 6546 128 89 89 306 1303 0.56
201 h
7 659
All India 40 37 131117 2918 6764 16275 10424 12
2

Source: Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (data till October 2018)

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2. AGRICULTURAL CREDIT

Generally,farmers take debt for growing crops. Agriculture credit is an important prerequisite for
agricultural growth, especially the Rural credit system assumes importance because for most of
the Indian rural families, savings are inadequate to finance farming and other economic
activities. This coupled with the lack of simultaneity between income realization and
expenditure and lumpiness of agricultural capital investments.

1. Institutional Sources Providing better access to institutional credit for the small and
marginal farmers and other weaker sections to enable them to adopt modern
technology and improved agricultural practices has been a major thrust of the policy .

2.Co-operative Credit System - The Cooperative Societies can be defined as

“an autonomous association of persons united voluntarily to meet their common
economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-owned and
democratically-controlled enterprise.

3.Commercial Banks - The share of commercial banks in rural credit was very meager till
1969. 4After the major banks were nationalized in 1969, commercial banks were mandated to
open branches in rural areas.

4.Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) - A large number of branches of RRBs were opened in the un-
banked or under-banked areas providing services to the interior of the Chhattisgarh. 

4
http://cgcompetitionpoint.in/2019/07/11/rural-credit-in-chhattisgarh/
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Availability of Credit in Chhattisgarh (as % of Total Advance)

Sectors 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19

Priority Sector Advances 49.35 48.7 50.09

Agricultural Advances 15.46 15.12 15.29

MSME Advances 25.04 24.4 24.79

Advances to Women 7.84 9.19 9.76

Source: State Level Bankers Committee, Chhattisgarh

As mentioned in the table above that the agricultural credits are taken from various sources but
the private sources charge a very high rate of interest. Also farmers get into dilemma if the crops
are destroyed due to reasons or get into the vicious circle of debts.
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3. LOW MINIMUM SUPPORT PRICE (MSP)

It has been observed that the farmers of Chhattisgarh get a very low MSP For the various types
of crop that they grow.

The Chhattisgarh government has decided to procure paddy at the minimum support price (MSP)
fixed by the Centre, as the latter has refused to buy the grain for the central pool from states
paying more.

The Congress-led government has announced that it would pay Rs 2,500 for a quintal of paddy
to farmers as promised in the election manifesto in 2018. In the kharif marketing season 2018-
19, it had indeed paid Rs 2,500 5and sought Centre’s permission to continue with that price in the
2019-20 season. The permission was required as the Centre had allegedly refused to buy paddy
for the central pool from states paying more than the MSP .

But the state government is giving MSP of rupees 1875 and the rest will come in after years.The
delay in MSP discourages the farmers from further growing of more crops which hampers the
overall produce of the state.

Also the Government purchases at a very low price from the farmers.

4. DEPENDENCY ON MONSOON

The farmers crop production are deeply affected by the rain. Low rainfall yields low production
of various crops whereas the excessive rainfall destroys the crops. There should be adequate
rainfall. Farmers having tubewells also get advantage of it however the tubeless farmers face a
lot of problems.

5
https://farmer.gov.in/mspstatements.aspx
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5. LACK OF ORGANIZATION OF AGRICULTURAL MARKETING

The marketing of farm products mainly done by Krishi Upaj Mandies (Regulated Market) There
has been special contribution of Krishi Upaj Mandies in well planned marketing of agricultural
production. There are 73 Mandies and 112 Sub-Mandies functioning in Chhattisgarh (2018-19).
The main purpose of there is to save the farmers from exploitation and provided them fair price
of their agricultural produce with in time and furnish all the facilities of marketing.

The inward arrival of 7368594 MT (2011) in Mandies of the State with income of Rs. 16413.46
lakh (2010-11) Mandi fees received from a prime source of income of the Board, which is paid
by Mandies to the board as board fees.

A Proper system of markets should be there so that the farmers did not get exploited.

6. FARM INPUT: REQUIREMENTS, AVAILABILITY & PRICE

The rate of fertilizers are touching the skies as a result of inflation. Also unavailability of HIGH
YIELDING SEEDS (HYS) raises lower production of crops. In present scenario the rate of
distribution of seeds, seed replacement rate, fertilizer distribution and consumption, plant protection
coverage, farm machinery, agriculture credit have found not been increased in the state.
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7. AGRICULURAL LABOUR AND WAGES RATES

The wages of agriculture labour are varied from Rs. 100 (2017) to Rs. 135 (2018). The
prevailing labour charges of agriculture operations are varied with the operations of cultivations
of crops i.e. ploughing, leveling, weeding, transplanting, harvesting and winnowing. The actual
wage rates of agriculture labour varied from Rs. 152 to 200 per man day in different operations
of the crops. The rates are higher in peak operation periods i.e. ploughing of seeds and harvesting
of crops. After the implementation of MNREGA in 2006 the availability of agricultural labour
has found to be reduced considerably at the time of peak operation periods. The wage rates of
agriculture labour of various agricultural operations have remarkably increased after
implementation of MNREGA in the state.

8. FARMERS SUICIDE

As many as 1,344 farmers committed suicide in Chhattisgarh during the last two-and-a-half

years, the state government said today.

In a written reply tabled in the Chhattisgarh Assembly, state Home Minister Ramsewak Paikra

said, “A total of 14,705 suicide cases have been registered between 2015–16 financial year and

October 30 this year. Of them, 1,344 were farmers and 13,361 others.”

9. DISGUISED EMPLOYMENT

Disguised employment refers to the surplus labours whose contribution in the crops has been nil.
Their removal doesnot affects the overall production . Often in the farms a lot persons doesnot
contribute to the farming. It is the problem of every village.
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CONCLUSION

There are many problems that the farmers of the state Chhattisgarh are currently facing . The
farmers are committing suicide .There are many problems like use of low quality seeds , Lower
MSP,agricultural debt, heavy use of chemical and fertilizers, disguised employment. Proper
Steps should be taken to improve the livelihood of the farmers. They should be proper policy
making and its proper implementation is very necessary for the benefit and raise the standard of
their living. Proper Schemes should be made keeping the view of the benefit of the farmers .The
farmers are in a great hope to see the luster in their eyes from the government side.
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REFERENCES

1. https://agriportal.cg.nic.in/

2. https://icar.org.in/content/chhattisgarh

3. http://goidirectory.nic.in/sectors_categories_sg.php?ct=ST001&ou=CG

4. http://agricoop.nic.in/agriculturecontingency/chhattisgarh