The Chief Minister's Office of Chhattisgarh announced on Wednesday, 10 June 2026 an expansion of the Krishi Unnat Yojana, under which farmers who move away from paddy cultivation to alternative crops will receive an incentive of ₹15,000. The announcement signals a fresh push by the Chhattisgarh government to accelerate crop diversification across the state. The post, shared on the official CMO handle, stated: 'कृषि उन्नत योजना का विस्तार — धान के बदले अन्य फसलें लेने वाले किसानों को मिलेंगे ₹15 हजार' ('Expansion of Krishi Unnat Yojana — farmers who take up crops other than paddy will receive ₹15,000').

Context

Chhattisgarh is one of central India's major paddy-producing states, often called the 'rice bowl' of the region. While paddy remains the dominant Kharif crop, its water-intensive nature has placed sustained pressure on groundwater tables and soil health across several districts. The state government has periodically introduced financial nudges to encourage a gradual shift toward less water-demanding alternatives. The Krishi Unnat Yojana is a state-level agricultural scheme designed specifically to incentivise crop diversification and improve farmer incomes. Wednesday's announcement extends its scope, making the ₹15,000 per-farmer incentive available to those willing to substitute paddy with other crops in the coming season.

Policy Backdrop

Chhattisgarh governments have worked on crop-diversification incentives since the early 2020s, recognising that near-exclusive paddy cultivation carries long-term risks — from falling water tables to price volatility at procurement centres. The broader national policy direction, reflected in central schemes on sustainable agriculture and the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, also encourages states to promote climate-resilient cropping patterns. The ₹15,000 incentive announced under the expanded Krishi Unnat Yojana is aimed at making the economic case for diversification concrete and immediate for farmers who might otherwise stick with the familiar paddy cycle. Alternative crops typically considered under such schemes include pulses, oilseeds, millets, and horticulture crops — though the specific eligible crops under this expansion have not been detailed in the announcement.

Stakeholders and Impact

The primary beneficiaries are paddy farmers across Chhattisgarh, particularly small and marginal cultivators for whom a direct cash incentive of ₹15,000 can meaningfully offset the perceived risk of switching to an unfamiliar crop. Diversification also benefits the broader agrarian ecosystem: reduced water extraction, improved soil nutrition cycles, and greater market variety for agricultural produce. For the state exchequer, the scheme represents a targeted welfare expenditure aimed at structural change in the agricultural sector rather than a one-time relief measure. The scale of fiscal outlay will depend on enrollment numbers, which are yet to be disclosed.

What's Next

With the Kharif 2026 sowing season approaching, the timing of this announcement is significant. The government is expected to roll out enrollment and disbursement details at the district level in the coming weeks. Observers will watch whether the ₹15,000 incentive is sufficient to move farmers at scale, and whether district-level cropping data from this season shows a measurable dip in paddy acreage. The success of this expansion could set a template for further broadening of the Krishi Unnat Yojana in subsequent agricultural years.