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Agriculture
Indore farmers shift to chickpea as low rains threaten wheat sowing, prices rise
✍️ Amar Ujala · Indore
🗓 21 Oct 2026, 07:01 AM
👁 10
Sparse rainfall in Indore district has created a water crunch for the Rabi season, prompting farmers to favor chickpea over wheat and driving up market prices for the pulse.
The Indore district of Madhya Pradesh is grappling with a water shortage this Rabi season after receiving below‑average rainfall. The deficit has made it difficult for farmers to secure enough irrigation for water‑intensive wheat, leading many to reconsider their cropping pattern.
According to local agricultural reports, a growing number of cultivators are opting to sow chickpea, a pulse that requires less water, as a precautionary measure. This shift reflects a broader trend of adapting to erratic monsoon patterns across the region.
Market observations indicate that the increased demand for chickpea has already pushed its price higher in regional mandis. Traders attribute the price surge to the sudden change in sowing preferences and the limited supply of wheat expected this year.
Agricultural officials have advised farmers to monitor soil moisture levels and adopt water‑saving techniques while the monsoon outlook remains uncertain. The situation underscores the vulnerability of rain‑fed agriculture to climate variability in central India.
According to local agricultural reports, a growing number of cultivators are opting to sow chickpea, a pulse that requires less water, as a precautionary measure. This shift reflects a broader trend of adapting to erratic monsoon patterns across the region.
Market observations indicate that the increased demand for chickpea has already pushed its price higher in regional mandis. Traders attribute the price surge to the sudden change in sowing preferences and the limited supply of wheat expected this year.
Agricultural officials have advised farmers to monitor soil moisture levels and adopt water‑saving techniques while the monsoon outlook remains uncertain. The situation underscores the vulnerability of rain‑fed agriculture to climate variability in central India.