Agriculture Minister Chouhan urges states to prioritise pulses, oilseeds in rabi planning

Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has directed states to design rabi crop plans based on available water resources and soil moisture levels. Water-stressed areas have been asked to focus on less water-intensive crops to optimise yields amid resource constraints.

Chouhan also emphasised the need to boost cultivation of pulses and oilseeds across the country to reduce India's dependence on imports. He flagged ongoing drought conditions in Maharashtra and Karnataka, underlining the urgency of tailored agricultural strategies for drought-prone regions.