Raipur, July 03: Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Friday directed all departments to prepare district-specific action plans to counter possible deficient rainfall and ensure an uninterrupted supply of agricultural inputs during the Kharif 2026 season. Presiding over a high-level review meeting at his official residence, the Chief Minister also evaluated the ground implementation of the newly launched Viksit Bharat–VB-G RAM G Yojana.

The state government has prioritised weather preparedness, water conservation, irrigation management, and scientific farming to protect farmers’ interests. Following a formal request made by the state to Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers Jagat Prakash Nadda, Chhattisgarh received over 46,000 tonnes of Diammonium Phosphate (DAP)—surpassing its normal allocation—to prevent any mid-season shortages.

The Chief Minister instructed senior bureaucrats to guarantee adequate irrigation for paddy crops in rain-fed areas and scale up awareness drives for Direct Seeded Rice (DSR), line sowing, seed treatment, and moisture conservation. Concurrently, a special campaign will be launched to expand pulse and oilseed cultivation in upland areas to hedge against weather-induced crop failures.

Warning against exploitation of farmers, the Chief Minister ordered strict punitive action against black marketing and the sale of substandard seeds or fertilisers. He urged the farming community to actively seek technical guidance from the Agriculture Department, Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), and regional research institutions.

To boost rural water resilience, the Chief Minister directed officials to scale up the ‘Mor Gaon Mor Pani’ campaign through community-led rainwater harvesting, farm ponds, and groundwater recharge structures. He also emphasized the widespread dissemination of the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) mobile applications—’Sachet’, ‘Damini’, and ‘Meghdoot’—to provide real-time weather and lightning alerts to remote villages.

Reviewing the VB-G RAM G Yojana, which came into effect on 1 July 2026, the Chief Minister noted that the scheme would significantly strengthen the rural economy by expanding guaranteed employment from 100 days to 125 days for rural families, with daily wages fixed at ₹300. He directed officials to align these employment hours with the creation of durable water-harvesting assets.

The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Subodh Kumar Singh, Agriculture Production Commissioner Siddharth Komal Pardeshi, Revenue and Disaster Management Secretary Shammi Abidi, and other senior officials from the state’s agricultural, scientific, and meteorological wings.