More impressions of Madhya Pradesh's Agriculture

Cotton is one of the major crops grown in this region of Madhya Pradesh. In organic cotton production, the harvest is currently still going on, while most of the conventional cotton farmers have already uprooted their cotton plants in order to sow wheat (a short-season "Rabi crop", meaning spring crop, because it is sown in winter and harvested in spring.) 

After the cotton harvest is over, some farmers let the cattle into the fields to feed on the last edible parts that are left. Then the plants are uprooted and used as a firewood supply for the rainy season.

Other major crops which are currently grown are chickpeas, sugarcane and, as I mentioned before, wheat. The soybeans, which are also a major crop in this region, have been harvested in October. 

Here is a wheat field in the front, and a sugarcane field at the back.

Both chickpeas and wheat need irrigation, which here in the vicinity of the Narmada river is done by flooding the fields (see previous blog entry "Rural India"). Wheat needs around 6 irrigations, chickpeas need 2-3 floodings.
Here are some close-ups of the chickpeas. There are different varieties. I've come across two, a white- and a purple-flowering one:

The first lots of chickpeas are already on the market!

And one evening, we were introduced to the easiest way of preparing chickpeas! Make a little fire and lay the whole plants on it. Then pick the chickpea-pods which are roasted, peel them and enjoy! The taste is delicious!

Next to chickpea and soybean, the other pulses which are cultivated are mainly pigeon peas, mung beans, and green peas. This is a field of pigeon pea-shrubs. Pigeon peas are the main ingredient for the daily Dal (lentil-soup).

Of course there are also many vegetable crops such as Tomato, Chilli, Cucumber, Eggplant, Onion, Carrot etc.

The harvested red chillies are dried in the sun, which looks so stunningly beautiful and always catches ones eyes!

 Yet, tomato and chilli are very demanding crops and conventionally grown with the heavy use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers.

And there are lots of very tasty fruits, many of which I've never even heard of (this would fill a whole new blog entry ;))  Though most common are bananas and papaya. But also these two crops need very intensive irrigation..Here's a banana plantation:

And last but not least India is known for its many spices! Coriander or in Hindi dhaniya (Coriandrum sativum), Fennel or somph  (Foeniculum vulgare), Caraway or kaala jeera (Carum carvi) Cumin or jeera (Cuminum cyminum), Turmeric or haldii (Curcuma longa) and many more! But especially this plant is one of my favourites: Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum), in Hindi "Methi", is wonderful if prepared as a vegetable like spinach. But even more exclusive are the seeds used as a spice in various dishes to give them a special flavour. Methi is an important Ayurvedic medicinal plant.