Scanty rainfall: MP CM calls for early-maturing crops, revival of 100 water bodies per block
Bhopal, July 2
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Thursday reviewed the state's preparedness for the possibility of scanty rainfall and directed all concerned departments to work in coordination to ensure farmers receive timely guidance and support.
Chairing a high-level meeting at the Mantralaya, the Chief Minister said the possibility of low rainfall should be seen as an opportunity for better planning and scientific farming rather than a challenge.
"The situation of potential scanty rainfall should be viewed not as a challenge, but as an opportunity for better planning, scientific farming and timely preparation," Mohan Yadav said, stressing that coordinated efforts would help minimise the impact on agriculture and farmers' income.
He instructed officials to create awareness among farmers about cultivating crops that require less water and mature early.
He suggested promoting millets and pulses, including jowar, bajra, urad, moong, tur and kodo-kutki, saying these crops can give good yields even with limited rainfall.
The Chief Minister also advised farmers not to begin sowing in haste and asked officials to ensure sowing starts only after adequate soil moisture is available.
He directed departments to promote moisture conservation, high-yielding short-duration crop varieties and modern farming practices.
"The interests of farmers are paramount, and the state government will take all necessary steps to ensure their prosperity and sustain agricultural production," Yadav added.
During the meeting, officials presented a contingency plan for the next two years. Under the AMRUT 2.0 scheme, urban local bodies will identify alternative water sources and prepare tanker supply plans.
In rural areas, a 90-day campaign will be launched under the Jal Jeevan Mission to review and repair piped water supply schemes.
The government will also restore ponds, wells and other traditional water bodies under Jalabhishek 2.0 and rejuvenate at least 100 water structures in every development block over the next two years.
Officials said groundwater recharge works, including check dams, stop dams, recharge shafts and farm ponds, will be taken up on a mission mode.
Canal cleaning and repairs will be completed before the Rabi season to ensure irrigation water reaches tail-end farmers.
The state will also prepare district-wise contingency crop plans, promote water-efficient farming methods, expand crop insurance coverage, strengthen satellite-based crop damage assessment, issue weather advisories through mobile messages and set up real-time water monitoring dashboards.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As a farmer's daughter from Malwa, I can tell you that scanty rainfall is a nightmare for us. But this time, the CM's approach feels different — promoting kodo-kutki and tur is actually smart. These are our traditional crops that our grandparents used to grow. Let's hope the awareness campaigns reach the villages quickly. The monsoon is already playing hide and seek! 🌾
Good intentions, but I'm skeptical about implementation. Every year we hear about contingency plans and water body revival, but the reality on ground is different. The '100 water bodies per block' target is ambitious — let's see if they actually achieve it. Also, farmers need better access to crop insurance, not just advisories. My cousin lost his soybean crop last year and is still waiting for insurance money.
This is the kind of proactive governance we need! Instead of waiting for disaster, they're planning ahead. The emphasis on moisture conservation and short-duration varieties is spot-on. And the satellite-based crop damage assessment is a game-changer if done transparently. Also appreciate the focus on tail-end farmers for canal cleaning — they're often the ones who suffer most. Well done, MP government! 👏
The Jal Jeevan Mission 90-day campaign is much needed. In our village, the pipeline gets fixed only when an election is near. But I'm glad they're specifically addressing rural water supply and groundwater recharge. If they actually build those check dams and recharge shafts, it could transform farming in drought-prone areas. Let's hope this isn't just another election gimmick.
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