Madhya Pradesh Agriculture Department Readies Rabi 2026-27 Contingency Plan After Uneven Monsoon

Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh - In response to the uneven rainfall caused by El Nino, the state's agriculture department has developed a contingency plan for the upcoming Rabi season of 2026-27. The primary goal is to prevent potential crop losses due to erratic weather patterns and help farmers mitigate possible damages by cultivating suitable crop varieties.

The contingency plan, aptly named "Cropwise and Agri Climatic Zone wise recommended varieties as per water availability for Rabi 2026-27", divides the state into 10 agro-climatic zones. These zones range from Chhattisgarh plain in zone 1, which includes the Balaghat district, to the northern Chhattisgarh plain in zone 2 comprising Mandla, Dindori, Shahdol, Umaria, Anuppur, and Sidhi districts.

Agro-climatic zone 3 encompasses Kamoor plain and Satpura hills, covering districts like Jabalpur, Katni, Seoni, Panna, Rewa, Satna, Singhrauli, Maihar, and Mauganj. Bhopal, Vidisha, Raisen, Damoh, and Sagar fall under agro-climatic zone 5, which is classified as the Vindhya Plain.

For non-irrigated areas in zone 5, the plan recommends sowing wheat variety MPO (J W) 1255. Conversely, in irrigated areas, wheat crops such as MP 3382 (J W 3382), Pusa Tejas (H I 8759), MP 3465 (J W 3465), GW 513, and Pusa Wakula (H I 1636) are advised. Additionally, various recommendations for gram, peanut, and oilseed varieties are provided based on the specific land type, such as irrigated, non-irrigated, and semi-irrigated.

The plan also takes into account the evolving agro-climatic conditions of the state. Notably, the Malwa belt experienced significantly reduced rainfall during the current monsoon season, which is anticipated to have an adverse effect on the forthcoming Rabi season.