Follow Madhya Pradesh's model of sustainable agricultural growth

Dr Anupam Mishra / Dr Prem Chand *

Madhya Pradesh stands out as a remarkable success story in agricultural growth in India. Over the past decade, the state’s agricultural sector has achieved an impressive annual growth rate of 7% in real terms and high double-digit growth (16%) in nominal terms. The sub-sectors have performed even better, with a growth rate of 13% in livestock and 15% in fisheries in real terms.

This growth is not only substantial but also sustainable, particularly in the context of natural resource management. For instance, since 2010-11, the area irrigated by traditional structures such as tanks, rainwater harvesting systems, and ponds in India has increased by 2.38 million hectares.

Notably, Madhya Pradesh alone accounts for 1.58 million hectares of this increase, contributing two-thirds of the national total. A study by the National Institute of Agricultural Economics and Policy Research further highlights that agricultural growth in Madhya Pradesh is the most sustainable among major states in the country.

The role of policy, coordination, and policy transfer

While irrigation expansion through the development of canal infrastructure is well documented from the data, a lesser-known yet critical factor in Madhya Pradesh’s agricultural success is the enhanced coordination, convergence, and agricultural technology transfer.Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan, the Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, has keenly understood these dynamics.

During his tenure as Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, addressing the challenges of coordination and strengthening the transfer of agricultural technology were top priorities. The Balram Talab Yojna, introduced in 2007, has been a key driver of growth besides the core objectives of rainwater harvesting and providing life-saving irrigation, has been the key driver of growth in the allied sector, particularly in the fisheries sector.

To align with the Schemes of the Central Government like PMKSY and to promote sustainable use of natural resources, necessary modifications have been made from time to time including the compulsion of installing micro-irrigation from 2017-18 for beneficiaries of Balram Talab Yojna to ensure per drop more crop.

Why is convergence so important?

Agriculture, as a subject of shared responsibility between the central and state governments under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, requires a highly coordinated approach, particularly when the intention is to promote system approach like agro-forestry. Indeed, the successful adoption of any improved technology is unlikely without effective coordination.

While the technology development,in one or another way, is taken up by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), which operates under the purview of the central government, the ultimate responsibility of disseminating these to farmers’ fields lies on the shoulders of state extension functionaries.

The Krishi Vigyan Kendras, which administratively largely controlled by the states and funded by the Government of India, also plays a crucial role in linking research institutes with state extension functionaries.

This necessitates stronger convergence between central and state initiatives, especially in sub-sectors like agro forestry which integrates trees or shrubs with crops or livestock, inherently intersects these domains, making coordination between the central and state governments essential.

Agroforestry sub-sector is critical in addressing challenges such as climate change and the limited availability of cultivable land and ignoring agroforestry further perhaps would cause huge cost to agriculture and environment. Although the Ministry of Agriculture has a national mandate for agroforestry research and promotion, its implementation often varies based on state-level policies and priorities.

Forestry, falling under the concurrent list, further complicates the coordination process, as both the central and state governments share legislative and policy-making responsibilities. While the central government focuses on framing broad policies, international agreements, and national conservation efforts, the actual management and administration of forests rests with the state governments.

This challenge has explicitly been highlighted in the National Agroforestry Policy 2014, the first policy of its kind globally.

Madhya Pradesh’s self-governed institutional mechanism

In 2013, the Madhya Pradesh government launched a special KVK-ATMA convergence scheme to improve collaboration between state extension functionaries and Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) while converging various schemes related to agriculture. The goal was to saturate at least 5,000 farmers per district annually with advanced agricultural technologies.

Recognizing the limited capacity of KVKs, a vital link between research institutes and grassroots extension systems, the scheme focused on maximizing their impact through strategic convergence. The most important part of the convergence was the self-governed institutional arrangements.

At the state level, the Agricultural Technology Application Research Institute (ATARI) served as the nodal coordinating body, while District Collectors, as the chairpersons of the Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA), an autonomous institution at the district level responsible for facilitating technology transfer at the district level, ensured effective implementation.

Together, these efforts have positioned Madhya Pradesh as a leading example of sustainable agricultural growth, driven by innovation, integration, and robust institutional frameworks.

Lessons to be learn from the growth story

The story of agricultural growth in Madhya Pradesh offers valuable lessons for other states to replicate the well-proven approach, particularly in coordination, convergence, and technology transfer. In fact, Shri Shivraj Ji himself has begun implementing these principles at the national level.

In his first address to agricultural scientists, he emphasized that strengthening agricultural extension is utmost important for improving the state of agriculture and farmers’ livelihoods. Recently, he appointed senior officials as nodal officers to oversee agricultural issues in assigned states, ensuring seamless coordination and effective policy implementation.

The intent is clear, but achieving meaningful reforms will require substantial efforts to ensure that technology effectively reaches farmers. The Agricultural Technology Application Research Institutes (ATARIs), which serve as a vital link between the central and state governments, need to be empowered with enhanced manpower and capacity-building initiatives.

This is essential not only for better coordination but also for research on innovative agricultural extension models that leverage cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. The traditional “business-as-usual” approach is insufficient in this era of rapid technological advancement.

The challenges are even more pronounced in allied sectors like agroforestry, where farmers require comprehensive information on agricultural credit, insurance, and market opportunities. Unfortunately, agroforestry extension services in the country remain inadequate.

Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) are under increasing demand, not only from the Department of Agriculture but also from other sectors. Expectations from KVKs continue to grow, but their manpower has not been proportionately increased. Strengthening KVKs is essential if we genuinely want agricultural technologies to reach farmers effectively.

One of the most pressing issues is the decline in state-level extension functionaries, which has been highlighted in nearly every study on agricultural extension. Perhaps the nodal officers appointed will be pushing to states to fill vacant positions and enhance the capacity of para-extension workers, including “farmer friends” and “Kisan Didis.”

This focused approach could drive meaningful change in agricultural extension and support farmers more effectively. Nevertheless, what is more important is the proactive role to be played by the states rather than looking to the central government if states really feel that agriculture is their subject of jurisdiction.


The views expressed are personal.

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