The Chhattisgarh Inclusive Rural and Accelerated Agriculture Growth (CHIRAAG) project will bring a new dawn of development to the tribal people in Bastar and Surguja region, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said on Wednesday.

It is one of the biggest projects to be implemented in 14 districts, Baghel said.

Launching the project at ‘Krishi Madai’ event held at Shaheed Gundadhur Agricultural College campus in Kumhrawand (Jagdalpur), he said the project of about Rs 1,735 crores is to be operated with the help of World Bank.

The Chief Minister announced to name the Government Women's Polytechnic Dharampura after Dharamu Mahara and the Bastar High School after Jagtu Mahara.

He announced the construction of a community hall in the name of Jagtu Mahara, an official communication said.

A MoU was signed between Bhumagadi Mahila Krishi Utpadak Samooh and Horticulture College for coffee production.

He said the objective of the project is to increase the income opportunities of the farmers, ensure availability of nutritious food in the villages, develop a nutrition-production system and develop a methodology for better management of resources.

Thus, it will bring new opportunities in modern farming and innovations, he said.

The World Bank (Rs 730 crores) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) (Rs 486 crores) have given assistance for the project. The state's commitment is Rs 518.68 crores.

The project will be implemented in the tribal development blocks of Bastar, Bijapur, Dantewada, Kanker, Kondagaon, Narayanpur, Sukma, Mungeli, Balodabazar, Balrampur, Jashpur, Korea, Surajpur and Surguja districts.