The state of Chhattisgarh is known as the “Rice Bowl” of Central India, with paddy being the principal crop. In addition to paddy, cereals such as maize, kodo-kutki, and other tiny millets, pulses such as tur and kulthi, and oilseeds such as groundnut, soybean, Niger, and Sunflower are farmed. However, productivity is low. This gave Horticulture a new lease on life, as the terrain is also ideal for growing fodder, other fruits, and a range of vegetables.
Fodder Crops
Maize
- It is irrigated sandy loam soils.
- In the summer crop, it should be sown by the end of February, and in the fall harvest, it should be sown between October and November.
- In Chhattisgarh, better varieties are recommended for agriculture. – Tall African, Pratap Makka Chari is a fictional character created by Pratap Makka Chari.
Hybrid Naiper
Hybrid Napier is a fast-growing fodder crop. Although the rainy season and summer months are when the most feed is collected. C.O. -3, R.B.N.-13, and Sampoorn are advised for growing. For a one-hectare area, 30000 to 35000 rooted slips should be planted in 60 cm row to row and plant to plant spacing.
Vegetable Crops
Tomato
- Tomato grows for the complete year in Chhattisgarh, improved varieties recommended for cultivation are Pusa early Dwarf, Sweet 72, Pusa Ruby, Pusa Gaurav, Naveen, Mangala.
- Sowing should be completed between October to November at rate of 400-500 gm/ ha.
Cabbage
Sowing during October- November for the varieties: Golden Acre, Pusa Synthetic, Harirani, Ganesh Gol, Pusa Drumhead, Late drumhead at 400-500 gm/ ha.
Onion
Agrifound Dark Red, N-53, Bheema Super, Bheema Dark Red, Bheema shakti, Bheema shrubhra, Bheema Shweta are the improved varieties that should be sowed before 25 November at 8-10kg/ha.
Cauliflower
Sowing during October-November for these varieties: Early Kunwari, Pusa Kartik, Pusa Dipali, pusa shubha, Pusa Snowball-2, Pusa sharad at 400-500 gm/ ha.
Chilli
Pusa Jwala, Pusa Sadabahar, Indira mirch-1, Jawahar Mirch-218 are the improved seeds. Sowing should be completed in September-October at the rate of 500 grams/ ha for normal and 200 grams/ha for hybrids.
Potato
Kufri Khyati, Kufri Pukhraj, Kufri Surya, Kufri Badsahah, Kufri Leema, Kufri Jawahar, Kufri Arun, Kufri Pushkar, Kufri Chipsona-1, Kufri Chipsona-2, Kufri Chipsona-3, Kufri Fryo and Kufri Frysona should be grown as the improved varieties for better produce.
Vegetable Pea
Suitable varieties are Arkel, Jawahar Matar-1, Jawahar Matar-2, Azad Matar -3, Pant sbji Matar-3. Complete sowing in October-November at the rate of 80-100 kg/ha.