Paddy arrivals at various Government procurement centers stood at 53.36 lakh metric tonnes (MT) for the Kharif Marketing Year 2015-16 so far, official stated.
Notably, the Government paddy procurement exercise had been underway in Chhattisgarh since November 2015 and would continue till January 31, 2016.
Sowing for Rabi season crops have been completed in 60 per cent of the cultivation area in Chhattisgarh as on December 23, 2015, officials stated.
The State Agriculture Department has set a target of carrying out sowing activity in 17 lakh hectares of land with farmers taking crops such as food grains, oilseeds, pulses and vegetable cultivation.
Moreover, during the current season, vegetables would be grown in 1.70 lakh hectares and the farmers have already carried out sowing in one lakh hectares of land
The farmers have also carried out sowing for sugarcane crops in an estimated 10,000 hectares of land.
Notably, the Agriculture Department has started encouraging the farmers to sow more of pulses crop in Rabi season 2015-16.
As per the given target, 3.60 lakh hectares have been marked for sowing gram, 30,000 hectares for lentils, 30,000 hectares for moong, 15,000 hectares for urad, 40,000 hectares for kulthi and 3.50 lakh hectares have been marked for sowing Tivra crop.
The Agriculture Minister informed that two lakh hectares of area have been finalized for oilseeds crops and necessary preparations are underway.
This includes 1.50 lakh hectares for mustard, 70,000 hectares for Alsi, 10,000 hectares for Kusum, 15,000 hectares for sunflower, 5,000 hectares for sesame and and 25 hectares of land for sowing peanuts.
He informed that this year, the Department has planned to utilize 1.65 lakh hectares of land for cultivation of vegetables in summer season. This includes 35,000 hectares for sugarcane cultivation.
Notably, there had been an increase of 20 per cent in Maize crop acreage in Chhattisgarh during the past 10 years.
Maize is the second-most sought after crop after paddy preferred by farmers in Chhattisgarh.
The crop is used in cornflakes, oil extraction, starch, making popcorn, organic fuel and for many other purposes, officials stated.
Maize is mainly produced in Bastar district's 'Patar' region (Plateau area) and Surguja's hilly terrain during the Kharif season.
It is grown in these areas in the courtyard for the past several generations. The tribal farmers grow Maize and shift to taking up oilseeds crops.