After all, how did the farmers who left paddy and cultivated maize get so much profit? How is the price of Rs 1700 per quintal increasing the income of farmers? Which farmers made records by earning lakhs of rupees? Could maize farming become the most profitable crop of the future? Know the complete success story of the farmers of Rajnandgaon.
Raipur. Crop diversification is being continuously encouraged in the agricultural sector, due to which along with increasing the income of the farmers, the quality of the land is also improving. Cultivation of new crops that give more profits in place of traditional crops is proving beneficial for the farmers. Due to this, they are getting better prices in the market and the risks associated with farming are also being reduced. Especially adopting maize cultivation instead of paddy has emerged as a profitable option for the farmers. This is giving positive results in water conservation, soil fertility and increasing income.
In Rajnandgaon, farmers’ earnings increased by cultivating maize instead of paddy.
Under the change in crop rotation in Rajnandgaon district, farmers who cultivated maize instead of summer paddy have got significant economic benefits. Farmers doing contract farming with Gourmade Popcorn Company have achieved new achievements in terms of production and income. The company has purchased popcorn maize worth more than Rs 5 crore from the farmers of the district, due to which there has been a significant increase in the income of the farmers.
605 farmers did contract farming, got price of Rs 1700 per quintal
In the Rabi season 2025-26, Gourmade Popcorn Company entered into a contract with 605 farmers of the district for the cultivation of popcorn maize in an area of 1763 acres. Farmers got an average production of 19.33 quintals per acre. The company purchased maize from farmers at the rate of Rs 1700 per quintal. Overall, produce worth more than Rs 5 crore was purchased. Out of this, Rs 3.73 crore has been paid to the farmers so far, while the remaining amount is being paid continuously.
Lalit Kumar Sahu became the leading farmer of the district in popcorn maize production.
Lalit Kumar Sahu, a farmer of village Bharitola of Churiya development block, created a record of producing maize in the largest area in the district by cultivating popcorn maize in an area of 23.56 acres. He got an income of more than Rs 6.95 lakh from this farming. Ved Prakash Chandrakar, a farmer of Rajnandgaon development block, achieved excellent production of 32.66 quintals per acre by farming in an area of 9.5 acres. He earned more than Rs 5.27 lakh from this farming. Similarly, farmer Devram Patel of village Jamleshwar earned an income of about Rs 4.67 lakh by producing 35.5 quintals per acre. The success of these farmers is becoming a source of inspiration for other farmers in the area.
Maize farming is benefiting water conservation and soil fertility.
According to the Agriculture Department, farmers are not only getting economic benefits by adopting alternative crops like maize in place of paddy, it is also helping in water conservation and maintaining soil fertility. With this model of crop diversification, the agricultural sector is becoming more sustainable and farmers’ dependence on a single crop is reducing.
The story of successful farmers is becoming an inspiration for other farmers.
This success achieved by the farmers of Rajnandgaon district is also inspiring the farmers of surrounding areas to adopt crop rotation change and alternative farming. Agricultural experts believe that if farmers adopt modern and profitable crops along with traditional farming, it is possible to increase their income significantly.