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Madhya Pradesh, ranking third nationally after Karnataka and Bihar in maize production, yielded 53.54 lakh tonnes of maize in 2023. Chhindwara, known as the Maize City, leads this production. However, extreme weather events linked to climate change have been devastating the Kharif maize crop in recent years, leaving Chhindwara's farmers increasingly concerned.
During visits to Chaurai tehsil in Chhindwara district, farmers revealed that erratic rainfall destroyed up to 75 percent of their maize crop this year. Rajesh Sanodia from Surjana village emphasised the severity of the rainfall, stating,
"Any other crop would have suffered more than 75 percent damage—the rainfall was that intense."
In response to these challenges, farmers are adapting new practices. Shishupal Singh Thakur of Samaswada village has begun cultivating maize during the Rabi season on his two-acre plot. "Rabi season maize cultivation is more reliable than Kharif because we can control irrigation according to our needs," explains Thakur.
"Many farmers are switching to Rabi maize cultivation, and we're seeing higher yields compared to Kharif."
This shift to Rabi maize cultivation is becoming increasingly common in Chaurai tehsil, with farmers preferring it over Kharif season planting. While this adaptation raises concerns about soil health due to limited crop rotation, farmers maintain that the switch to Rabi maize cultivation is necessary to offset their Kharif losses.
The comprehensive report explores the agricultural challenges facing Chhindwara's maize farmers and examines the potential impact of reduced crop rotation on soil quality.
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