While urban Jagdalpur is largely commercial and administrative, the immediate outskirts and the surrounding Bastar district are heavily agrarian. Agriculture here is largely rain-fed, depending heavily on the monsoon.
Rice (paddy) is the staple crop and the primary agricultural focus. Other cultivated crops include millets (such as kodo and kutki), maize, and pulses. Over recent years, there has been a push toward organic farming, leveraging the fact that many local farmers traditionally use minimal chemical fertilizers.
Forestry and allied activities are deeply integrated with agriculture. The collection of minor forest produce provides critical seasonal income for farmers. Animal husbandry and local inland fisheries in ponds and the Indravati river also contribute to local food security and the rural economy.
