Drought-hit Chhattisgarh says sow oilseed, pulses, avoid rabi paddy.

Drought-hit Chhattisgarh has asked farmers to switch to oilseeds and pulses during the upcoming rabi season from water-intensive paddy. The state government has given out advisories asking farmers to sow wheat, maize, mustard, chana this rabi season, as these crops require lesser water compared with paddy. This time around, there not enough water available for paddy cultivation, as water level in Chhattisgarh’s two key reservoirs–Minimata Bangoi and Mahanadi–is running precariously low due to poor monsoon rains.