Indian Agri Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan lauds merits of dryland farming as farmers shift from millets

Bhopal, [Madhya Pradesh], May 10 (ANI): Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan addresses the media regarding the implementation of the Viksit Bharat-G RAM G Act, in Bhopal on Sunday. (ANI Video Grab) | Photo Credit: ANI

Indian Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that while he ensured irrigation in more land as the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, it also resulted in the diversification from millets and pulses crops to paddy-wheat rotation. But he underscored the importance of raising farmers’ incomes in which irrigation played a major role.

Addressing the 3-day Dryland Congress, organised by ICAR and ICRISAT that commenced in New Delhi on Thursday, Chouhan responded to a comment from M L Jat, Director-General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), praising the minister’s efforts in completely transforming Madhya Pradesh in agriculture.

“What did we change? We arranged water, built dams, constructed canals, and water arrived. But as soon as water arrived, our millets disappeared, our pulses disappeared, and our oilseeds disappeared. We used to grow such wonderful (green) peas here! Now, only two crops are being grown—paddy followed by wheat, and if water is available, then green gram (summer moong) as the third,” he said.

‘Diverisification in our roots’

He said earlier there was crop diversification, and agriculture was rain-fed. “Even in our fields, we never grew wheat and paddy alone. Chickpeas, lentils, green pea, linseed, sesame, green gram, black gram... Our elders used to say that you should sow four different things in four corners, not just one. Diversification was in our roots; it was in our core,” Chouhan said.

Describing the delight of eating sorghum (jowar) roti (bread), he said now sorghum roti has disappeared. Pearl millet is seen only occasionally now. Earlier, rotis were made primarily from millets and wheat rotis were prepared only when guests arrived.

But once dryland agriculture receded, these crops disappeared as well. In reality, rain-fed agriculture is where pulses, oilseeds, and millets thrive. Nearly 85-87 per cent of the country’s millets—whether nutritious grains, pulses, or oilseeds—are grown in these regions, and livestock also survives in these areas. As soon as water and other resources arrived, everything else faced cuts.

He said that a farmer’s status used to be measured by how many pairs of bullocks he had. This was a symbol of an individual farmer’s status. But “Tractor Maharaj” and mechanisation ruined livestock to the extent that the poor animals are now wandering helplessly on the roads. The problem concerning these animals has now become very deep and severe.

3 major goals

“I used to observe that dryland farming had its own benefits where it existed. It is true that regarding efforts to increase production, we also have a goal under the leadership of the Prime Minister. We have three major goals: Ensuring food and nutrition security and higher income to farmers,” he said.

The Government has a well-thought-out policy to achieve these goals. It includes increasing production, reducing input costs, ensuring fair prices for produce, and providing compensation in case of losses. Now, there is also focus on diversification, which is essential.

Commenting on soil health issue, he said lack of organic carbon in drylands are now talked about. Even where there is water and fertilizer, where is organic carbon left? It is continuously declining, which is a major concern. “That is why I say dryland is not our weakness. If given the right science, right policies, and right market access, this dryland can become the greatest strength for India,” he said. Though production in drylands has increased recently, it is not below expectation, he pointed out and asked ICAR to pay special attention.

Published on September 10, 2026