CPCT Test 3
15 min30 WPM required492 words
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Agriculture is the primary occupation of the majority of Madhya Pradesh's population and the foundation of the state's rural economy, with the state's large geographical area, diverse agro-climatic zones, and substantial river basin systems supporting a wide variety of crops and farming systems. Madhya Pradesh is the largest state in India by geographical area among the major agrarian states, and its agricultural landscape ranges from the rich black cotton soils of the Malwa plateau, the alluvial plains of the Chambal and Narmada river basins, the laterite soils of the Vindhyan plateau, and the forest-fringed tribal districts of the Satpura-Maikal range. Soybean is the most important kharif crop of Madhya Pradesh, and the state is the largest producer of soybean in India, accounting for a substantial share of national production. The Malwa plateau, with its deep black soils and moderate kharif rainfall, is the heartland of soybean cultivation, and the city of Indore has developed as a major centre for soybean processing and oilseed trade. Wheat is the dominant rabi crop of Madhya Pradesh, and the state consistently ranks among the top three wheat-producing states in India. The fertile alluvial soils of the Narmada valley, the Chambal command area, and the Betwa command area support high-yielding wheat cultivation under irrigation. Madhya Pradesh has also achieved significant production of gram, the most important pulse crop, which thrives in the rabi season on the residual moisture of the Malwa soils. Other important crops include maize, jowar, bajra, arhar, urad, moong, sugarcane, cotton, and various oilseeds. Irrigation infrastructure is a critical determinant of agricultural productivity in Madhya Pradesh, and the state has invested heavily in the development of canal systems, tank irrigation, and groundwater exploitation through tube wells and open wells. The Narmada Valley Development Authority has brought large areas of central and western Madhya Pradesh under irrigation through the Tawa, Bargi, and Bansagar projects, while the Chambal River Valley project serves the northern districts. Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana and the state's own Mukhyamantri Khet Talab Yojana have sought to expand micro-irrigation and water harvesting at the farm level, improving water use efficiency and extending irrigation to areas beyond the reach of major and medium schemes. The Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana, a price stabilisation scheme unique to Madhya Pradesh, was introduced to protect farmers from price crashes by compensating them for the difference between their sale price and the modal market price when prices fall below a reference level. The scheme was subsequently replaced by the national PM-AASHA scheme but demonstrated the state's policy innovation in farmer income protection. Agricultural extension services delivered through the Krishi Vigyan Kendras, the department of agriculture's block-level staff, and private input dealers inform farmers about recommended cultivation practices, seed varieties, pest and disease management, and market intelligence. The improvement of agricultural marketing infrastructure through APMC market yards, farmer producer organisations, and the development of direct marketing platforms has sought to improve the realisation of farm gate prices for agricultural produce.