CM Mohan Yadav Addresses Katni Farmers at Balram Krishi Mahotsav
Synopsis
Madhya Pradesh CM Dr. Mohan Yadav virtually joined the Balram Krishi Mahotsav in Katni on October 28 under Krishak Kalyan Varsh-2026, urging farmers to adopt kodo-kutki, natural farming, and organic practices to diversify income and secure fair produce prices.
Key Takeaways
Mohan Yadav joined the Balram Krishi Mahotsav in Katni virtually on October 28, 2026 .
The event is part of Krishak Kalyan Varsh-2026 , MP's dedicated farmer welfare year.
The government is promoting kodo-kutki millet cultivation, natural farming, and organic farming in Katni district.
CM Yadav pledged fair prices for produce, improved irrigation, and new prosperity opportunities for farmers.
The millet push builds on momentum from the 2023 International Year of Millets , targeting climate-resilient, low-input crops.
At a time when Indian agriculture is under pressure to modernise without losing its roots, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav connected virtually with farmers in Katni on Wednesday, October 28, joining the Balram Krishi Mahotsav — a district-level agricultural festival held under the state's flagship Krishak Kalyan Varsh-2026 initiative.
What Brought Katni Farmers Into Focus
CM Yadav's message to the gathering was both an affirmation and a push. He noted that Katni's farmers are embracing new crops alongside traditional cultivation — a shift the state government is actively encouraging through natural farming, organic farming, and the promotion of kodo-kutki (indigenous millets native to the region's tribal belt). The goal: to open new income streams for farmers who have long depended on a narrow crop basket.
In his address, CM Yadav stated — 'हमारा संकल्प है कि किसानों को उनकी उपज का उचित मूल्य, बेहतर सिंचाई सुविधाएँ और समृद्धि के नए अवसर मिलें' — ('Our resolve is that farmers receive a fair price for their produce, better irrigation facilities, and new opportunities for prosperity.')
Kodo-Kutki and the Millet Momentum
The emphasis on kodo and kutki is not incidental. Following the 2023 International Year of Millets, Madhya Pradesh accelerated promotion of these climate-resilient, low-input crops — particularly in rural and tribal districts like Katni. Kodo-kutki cultivation demands less water, tolerates poor soils, and commands growing premium prices in organic and health-food markets, making it a logical fit for farmer income diversification.
Natural and organic farming round out the trio of practices being promoted under the district programme, aligning the state's ground-level push with India's national agenda on sustainable agriculture and chemical-input reduction.
Krishak Kalyan Varsh-2026: The Bigger Frame
The Balram Krishi Mahotsav is one node in a series of district-level events the MP government is rolling out under Krishak Kalyan Varsh-2026 — a dedicated farmer welfare year aimed at connecting policy promises directly to the field. The virtual format allowed CM Yadav to engage without diverting from other commitments, a model the administration has leaned on for broader outreach across the state's 55 districts.
For Katni's farming community, the occasion was as much a policy signal as a celebration — an official acknowledgment that their experiments with new crops are state-backed, not solitary gambles.
Point of View
Year-long campaigns that lend continuity to otherwise episodic welfare gestures. By spotlighting kodo-kutki in an eastern MP district with significant tribal farming households, the administration is threading a national millet narrative into hyper-local soil — a politically astute move that positions the party ahead of future rural electoral cycles. The virtual format also signals an institutionalised outreach infrastructure, allowing the Chief Minister to project presence across 55 districts simultaneously rather than sequentially. Whether the push translates into measurable income gains will depend on market linkages and procurement guarantees — the two variables conspicuously absent from the event's messaging.
NationPress
28 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Krishak Kalyan Varsh 2026 in Madhya Pradesh?
Krishak Kalyan Varsh-2026 is a Madhya Pradesh government initiative dedicating the year to farmer welfare, income enhancement, and agricultural diversification through district-level events and scheme implementation.
What is the Balram Krishi Mahotsav?
The Balram Krishi Mahotsav is an agricultural festival organised at the district level in Madhya Pradesh to promote farmer outreach, new cropping practices like kodo-kutki, and organic and natural farming methods.
What crops is the MP government promoting in Katni?
The Madhya Pradesh government is promoting kodo-kutki (indigenous millets), natural farming, and organic farming in Katni district to help farmers diversify income beyond traditional crops.
What did CM Mohan Yadav promise farmers at the Katni event?
CM Dr. Mohan Yadav pledged that his government is committed to ensuring farmers receive fair prices for their produce, better irrigation facilities, and new opportunities for prosperity.
Why is kodo-kutki farming important in Madhya Pradesh?
Kodo and kutki are climate-resilient, low-input millets suited to tribal and rural MP soil conditions. Following the 2023 International Year of Millets, their promotion has aligned with both national sustainability goals and rising demand in organic markets.
