Agri-entrepreneurship as a pathway to income diversification and rural resilience in Chhattisgarh

Abstract

Agri-entrepreneurship has emerged as a transformative strategy for strengthening rural livelihoods, enhancing income diversification and building resilience among farming households. In Chhattisgarh, where a significant proportion of the population depends on agriculture and allied activities, fluctuating market prices, climate variability and limited non-farm opportunities often exacerbate rural vulnerability. This study examines the role of agri-entrepreneurial initiatives including value addition, dairy enterprises, fisheries, minor forest produce processing, and agri-input services in improving household income stability and adaptive capacity. Using secondary data from government reports, NABARD publications, and state economic surveys, supplemented with field insights from selected districts, the paper demonstrates that agri-entrepreneurship contributes to income diversification by 25-40% among participating households. The findings suggest that targeted policy support, access to credit, skill development and market linkages can significantly enhance rural resilience and reduce poverty in the state.