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Madhya Pradesh - History & Current Overview in Agriculture

Madhya Pradesh is the 2nd largest state in the country in area. Its geographical area is 307.56 lakh hectares, which is 9.38 per cent of the total area of the country. Out of the total geographical area 307.56 lakh hectares of the state, only about 151.91 lakh hectares are arable. Out of this, at present year 2022-23, in about 146.08 lakh hectares area, Kharif crops and in about 141.62 lakh hectares area, rabi crops are being taken up. The crop density of the state is 190.03 percent. The total irrigated area in the State is about 169.48 lakh hectares from government and private sources.

Madhya Pradesh ranked fifth in the country in terms of population. Agriculture and agriculture occupations in Madhya Pradesh are mainly the backbone of the state's economy. About 72 per cent of the population lives in rural areas. Out of these, 35 per cent of the population is under SC (15.6 per cent*) and ST (21.1 per cent*) who have very low holding size and are unable to take proper agricultural production due to various reasons. Including this, there are 27.24 per cent of the small farmers in the State with 1 to 2 hectares holding size and 48.3 per cent of marginal farmers with a maximum of 1 hectare of land available.

Based on the diverse climate of the State, it is divided into 11 climatic zones and 5 crop areas. The soybean crop is the highest sowing crop in the State during the Kharif season, which is presently being sown in about 59.74 lakh hectares. Apart from this, other major crops in Kharif are soybean, paddy, maize, arhar, moong, urad, sorghum, millet, kodo, kutki, sesame, cotton etc. On the other hand, rabi has major crops like wheat, gram, peas, lentils, mustard, sugarcane, linseeds etc. Apart from these, cotton and sugarcane crops are also our major cash crops. Among them, wheat acreage is the highest. Due to the efforts made for wheat productivity, its productivity has increased significantly.

Almost all the major crops sown in the State have set high records in the field of production and productivity in the last one-and-a-half decades. Our State ranks 1st in country in the production of Soybean, Gram, Urad, Tur, Masoor, Linseed; 2nd in the production of Maize, Sesame, Ramtil, Moong and 3rd in the production of Wheat, Sorghum, Barley.

In addition, the Directorate of Agricultural Engineering (Bhopal), M.P. State Agricultural Marketing (Mandi) Board (Bhopal), M.P. State Seed & Farm Development Corporation (Bhopal), M.P. State Seed Certification Agency (Bhopal), M.P. State Organic Certification Agency (Bhopal), Jawaharlal Nehru Agricultural University (JNKVV, Jabalpur) and Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Agricultural University (RVSKVV, Gwalior) and the State Institute of Agricultural Extension and Training, (SIAET, Barkhedikalan, Bhopal) are the allied departments again through which the department manage agri input supplies, Agricultural Produce Marketing, Training, Mechanization and extension related programs.

The focus of various units of the Department is to increase the production and productivity of agricultural crops in the State, land and water management, expansion of minor irrigation program and increase the income of farmers by practicing developed agricultural techniques to the fields.

The key factor for increasing the income of farmers is to reduce the cost of agriculture and increase value derived from production. The key activities being taken up by department for this are as under-

1. Optimum use of fertilizer by soil testing.
2. Encouraging use of agriculture equipment through custom hiring or by purchasing on subsidy for from land preparation to all agricultural works.
3. To produce seeds of full requirement for the next year by sowing certified seeds of improved variety every year in 10% of the farm area.
4. Sowing the seeds prepared by seed treatment and organic manure.
5. By following the "Shri" method in paddy, "Ridge & Faro" or "Raised bed" method in soybean, "Dharwad Method" in Tur along with following the inter-cropping system is an easy way to achieve higher production by reducing the risk of crops.
6. Saving irrigation water and equally water distribution using innovative irrigation practices such as drip and sprinkler.
7. Use of pesticides prepared from indigenous and traditional manure and locally available materials under organic farming. By adopting the integrated pest and disease control measures.
8. Sale of products by obtaining highest price information on the basis of received information from e-marketing or other sources .
9. Setting up of alternative sources of income through cultivation as well as horticulture, forestry, animal husbandry, fisheries, sericulture etc.
10. To conserve products and earn more profit through their value addition by adopting food processing measures.