Raipurरायपुर

What the plan promotes

• ▸Paddy is the district's dominant crop (5,05,770 MT in 2016-17); rice/poha milling is the leading agro-industry and the PLP calls for more rice mills as SPS committees route procured paddy to them.
• ▸Dairy development carries Rs 285.03 cr of term-credit potential and farm mechanisation Rs 314.85 cr, the two biggest allied sub-lines.
• ▸Strong tomato output supports proposed tomato ketchup/sauce/puree units; pulses and oilseeds volumes justify setting up more dal mills and oil mills.
• ▸MSME is the largest opportunity at Rs 5,587 cr (~56% of the plan), anchored by industrial estates at Urla/Siltara (1,185 acres, 48 units), Bhanpuri and Rawabhata (200 acres).
• ▸Key industries include cement, steel casting, rolling mills, ferro-alloys, sponge iron (Siltara), flour/oil/dal/rice mills (Tilda-Nevra) and readymade garments (Bhanpuri).
• ▸As the state capital, Raipur handles the whole of Chhattisgarh's export activity; iron, mango-seed and sal-seed extracts, coal, dolomite and limestone are exported (Rs 240 cr export-credit potential).

Gaps the plan names

• ▸Cold-chain and cold-storage capacity is inadequate for rising fruit, vegetable and meat output; banks and government departments are asked to prioritise new cold chains and cold storage.
• ▸Fruit processing potential is limited because fruit output is neither sufficient nor of adequate quality; existing oil and dal mills are very small (household-scale) so larger mills are needed.
• ▸Agri-clinic/agri-business centres attract few entrepreneurs due to low profitability; graduates suggest a government-backed internship to build interest.
• ▸Research and development is needed to fix problems building anicuts and ponds under uncertain-monsoon conditions, and to promote micro-irrigation, organic manure and agri-business centres.
• ▸Relative to Raipur's population and area, MSME activity is low; the District Industries Centre must take the initiative, and a Common Facility Center for die design is proposed.