Horticulture Farming Changes Farmer’s Economic Picture

Double profit in strawberry cultivation compared to paddy, technical guidance, government subsidy reduced expenses, increased income. Raipur, January 20, 2026/ Under the government’s horticulture promotion schemes in the district, farmers are now breaking the boundaries of traditional farming and moving towards new possibilities. Farmers are now adopting more profitable crops instead of relying solely on paddy. Farmer Lal Bahadur Singh said that the cost of cultivating strawberries on 2.5 acres was approximately 2 lakh rupees. He estimates an income of about 9 lakh rupees from this. Farmer Shri Lal Bahadur Singh, a resident of Bhagwanpurkhurd in Surguja district, also adopted innovation in farming with this thought and today he has made his identity as a strong, self-reliant and progressive farmer. Successful shift from paddy to horticulture, farmer Shri Lal Bahadur Singh said that even after years of paddy cultivation, the profit was relatively limited. Profits decreased due to increased costs and dependence on weather. Meanwhile, horticulture department officials informed him about high-value crops like strawberry and explained their benefits. This inspired him to change his farming. Starting from a small area, expanding to a large area, he said that he started strawberry cultivation on just 50 decimal area. After seeing the profit, he cultivated on one acre the following year and then increased it to 2.5 acres in the third and fourth year. Currently, he is successfully cultivating strawberries on 2.5 acres, from which he is getting a good income. Low cost, high profit in strawberry cultivation, farmer Shri Singh said that the cost of cultivating strawberries on 2.5 acres was approximately 2 lakh rupees. He estimates an income of about 9 lakh rupees from this. After deducting the cost, a net profit of approximately 7 lakh rupees is being obtained. He said that if the same 2.5 acres were used for paddy cultivation, it would yield about 90 quintals, which would bring an income of about 3 lakh rupees by selling at the government procurement center. After a cost of about 1 lakh rupees in paddy cultivation, the net profit would be only around 2 lakh rupees. Subsidy in horticulture reduced expenses, increased profit, farmer Shri Lal Bahadur Singh said that under this scheme of the horticulture department, the amount for saplings, fertilizers, and seeds is refunded through DBT. He will receive a subsidy of about 80 to 85 thousand rupees. The department also provides technical guidance from time to time, which is making the farming more successful. Guidance from officials became the key to success, Shri Lal Bahadur Singh said that he procures saplings himself and cultivates according to the parameters set by the horticulture department. Departmental officials inspect the field and provide necessary advice, which improves both the quality and quantity of production and fetches a good price in the market. Lal Bahadur Singh became an inspiration for other farmers, Shri Singh said that other farmers can also benefit from the government’s horticulture scheme. By adopting horticultural crops along with traditional crops like paddy, farmers can increase their income manifold. Today, he himself has become strong and self-reliant through horticulture farming and is inspiring other farmers in this direction. Expressed gratitude to the government for horticulture promotion, farmer Shri Lal Bahadur Singh expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Shri Vishnu Deo Sai, for promoting horticulture farming. He said that due to government schemes, the farmers of the state are becoming strong, self-reliant, and progressive farmers today.