Authors: R.P. Singh, Abhishek Danodia and Kamal Pandey

The Narmada Valley, extending across the states of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, is one of India’s key agricultural zones, distinguished by its fertile soils and well-developed irrigation infrastructure. Agriculture is the predominant land use in the region, occupying approximately 56.9% of the total area, while forests account for about 32.88%. Geographically, the valley lies between the Vindhyachal mountain range to the North and the Satpura range to the south. Figure 1 highlights the Narmada Valley within Madhya Pradesh, showcasing summer (Zaid) crop coverage for the current growing season (May 2025). This region encompasses the districts of Bhopal, Narmadapuram, Narsinghpur, Jabalpur, Harda, Sehore, and Raisen known for extensive summer crop cultivation. 

Figure 1: Summer crop coverage as seen in green colour in 3D view of the Narmada valley, Satpura Mountain Range can be seen in the Southern part of the image. Image generated using 3 day NDVI composite (Red: 5-15 Dec 2024; Green: 5-15 May 2025; Blue: 5-15 April 2025). Different cities are represented as (1) Bhopal, (2) Narmadapuran, (3) Narsinghpur, (4) Jabalpur

Satellite-derived imagery from the MODIS sensor reveals the historical progression of agricultural expansion in the Narmada Valley over the past two decades. True Colour Composite (TCC) images clearly illustrate a significant increase in cultivated area, particularly from 2015 onwards. Figure 2 presents the mean MODIS imagery for the month of May across selected years 2003, 2012, 2015, and 2025 highlighting the spatio-temporal dynamics of crop area development within the study region.

Figure 2: Spatio-temporal development of summer crop acreage in the Narmada valley from 2003 to 2025 in representation of MODIS derived True Colour Composite of May month

The Directorate of Economics and Statistics under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has been maintaining district-level crop statistics for over 25 years. These records for moong (green gram) cultivation corroborate the observed trends in satellite data, showing a marked increase in crop acreage across key production districts in the Narmada Valley namely Narmadapuram, Narsinghpur, Jabalpur, Harda, Sehore, and Raisen (Figure 3). Over the past decade, these districts have experienced substantial expansion in moong cultivation. According to recent estimates, Narmadapuram district alone accounts for more than 350,000 hectares of moong crop acreage in the current season. The most significant growth in summer (Zaid) cropping area began around the 2014–15 period, reflecting a broader shift towards intensive summer cultivation in the region.

The satellite-derived data strongly aligns with the ground-level impact of the Government of India’s flagship initiative the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), launched nationwide on July 1, 2015. This comprehensive program aims to enhance water use efficiency and expand irrigation coverage, including in agriculturally significant regions such as the Narmada Valley. A core component of PMKSY is the “Per Drop More Crop” (PDMC) initiative, which promotes micro-irrigation technologies at the farm level to optimize water utilization. The PDMC’s guiding principle “Per Drop More Crop” emphasizes the precise estimation and efficient management of water resources, a critical requirement for achieving sustainable agricultural production. In this context, the Indian Institute of Remote Sensing (IIRS) is conducting advanced research focused on agricultural water management. This includes evaluating water requirements and usage through the integration of geospatial technologies, in-situ measurements, and advanced instrumentation at fine spatial resolutions.

Figure 3: Increment of summer moong acreage in different districts of Narmada Valley as per Department of Agriculture & Cooperation (DAC) database

However, a new environmental challenge has emerged in the region widespread residue burning following the Rabi season. This issue stems primarily from the short interval between the Rabi and summer cropping cycles, compounded by increased exploitation of water and soil nutrients to meet production demands. Consequently, the adoption of a sustainable agricultural management system has become essential to ensure long-term environmental health and the efficient use of water and soil resources in the Narmada Valley.

References:

https://pmksy.gov.in

https://aps.dac.gov.in/Home.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2f

https://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/data