When everyone around him was growing genetically modified Bt cotton, one Madhya Pradesh farmer saw red. Finding the negatives of GM crops outweighed the positives, the farmer from Dewas switched to red gram.
A 20-minute walk through narrow, rocky lanes and fields from Balram Rathore’s two-room kutcha house leads to a distinctive half-acre plot among the surrounding cotton fields. Rows of red gram plants now stretch across the land.
Five years ago, Rathore’s farm blended in with his neighbours – they all grew the same cotton crop. But today, his plot stands out.
Rathore, a 48-year-old farmer from Borkhedi village in the Bagli tehsil of Dewas, has experienced the highs and lows of modern agriculture. Like many farmers across India, he once cultivated cotton after the advent of the genetically modified Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) Cotton, designed to resist pests. But five years ago, he began rethinking his approach, seeking a more sustainable and profitable path.
Today, he is part of a growing trend in the district to revive red gram, a split pulse dal also called pigeon pea. It is also a crop with deep traditional roots and exceptional resilience.
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Long ago, these villages in Dewas, home to the Bhil and Bhilala tribes, had traditionally grown red gram and maize. After the Green Revolution, traditional crops were replaced by wheat, with little land devoted to maize and red gram. However, in 2007, genetically modified cotton took over.
The villagers say that initially Bt Cotton was like a lifeline for its farmers. Designed to resist bollworms, Bt Cotton promised higher yields with fewer pest issues, allowing India to become one of the world’s top cotton producers.
However, this genetically modified crop came with hidden consequences. For one, the input costs for Bt Cotton steadily rose.
“The hybrid seeds can’t be reused, so I had to buy expensive seeds annually, adding to the financial burden. I spent about Rs 10,000 on seeds alone, only to receive diminishing returns of Rs 25 per kg. Over time, the demand for pesticides and fertilisers skyrocketed, affecting soil health and raising environmental concerns,” Rathore said.
But that was not all. Bt cotton had been embraced for its genetically engineered resistance to the bollworm pest, which was expected to reduce pesticide dependency and boost yields. However, outcomes for farmers have been mixed, particularly as pest-resistance to Bt cotton has evolved.
“As Bt Cotton took over as a cash crop, its intensive requirements eroded soil fertility, leading to compaction and reduced water retention in the fields,” said Sukhran Baghel, 52, an agricultural activist from the region who has worked with Samaj Pragati Sahyog (SPS) in spreading awareness about traditional crops. SPS has partnered with NABARD under its agroecology-based programme JIVA, supported by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, to promote natural farming practices in Dewas.
Faced with these challenges, Rathore transitioned back to a traditional crop: red gram. The benefits of red gram, both agronomic and economic, became clear.
Known for its climate resilience, red gram is well-suited to Madhya Pradesh’s semi-arid regions, requiring significantly less water and external inputs compared to cotton. So Rathore planted 1 kg of red gram seeds, costing Rs 370, across a quarter of his land.
The result?
A harvest of 3.5 quintals, which he sold at Rs 10,000 per quintal – marking a drastic improvement in profitability and sustainability.
Cotton can be tricky, as it requires skilled labour to harvest properly,” Rathore explained. “Red gram, on the other hand, can be harvested by anyone, saving both time and money.
Rathore’s success extends beyond economics.
The transition to red gram has rejuvenated his soil without the need for chemical fertilisers or pesticides. Instead, he applies panchatatva kadha, a homemade bio-pesticide derived from local plants, including neem (Azadirachta indica). This mixture, containing boiled-down leaves, acts as an effective natural pesticide, reducing the risk of pest outbreaks without harming the environment.
“Red gram is a drought-tolerant, leguminous crop that contributes to soil enrichment through nitrogen fixation, which improves soil health and reduces the need for synthetic fertilisers. This natural resilience makes red gram a viable crop even in low-rainfall areas, providing a dependable yield that aligns well with the risks of climate variability,” Baghel said.
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The community has taken notice of these benefits. Farmers around Dewas have seen firsthand how the revival of the pigeon pea dal fosters biodiversity in their fields, attracting pollinators and beneficial insects. Additionally, with red gram’s capacity to naturally replenish nitrogen, the need for chemical fertilisers has decreased.
Farmers in the region have now started cultivating red gram in small patches of their land and at times mixed with other crops as it takes eight months to cultivate.
In Mahigaon village, Pratap Alawa, a farmer in his late 50s, started cultivating red gram on his one-acre farmland two years ago. At present, he cultivates red gram with maize. He also keeps a small patch of his land for cultivating cotton, which he plans to phase out soon.
“Over the years, cotton production has declined, while input costs have risen. Maize yields have also suffered due to unseasonal rains, damaging the crop and leaving very little for sale—mostly, it’s used for self-consumption. But with red gram, I don’t face these challenges,” Alawa explained. “Although it takes longer to harvest—around eight months—it requires minimal tending and withstands erratic weather well,” he said.
Beyond its agricultural advantages, red gram has a deep-rooted cultural significance. Before the Green Revolution shifted local focus to wheat and later to Bt Cotton, red gram was a dietary staple, providing essential protein to rural communities.
Today, its revival not only supports soil health but also brings this nutritious legume back to local diets, promoting food security and nutritional well-being. The perennial legume is an excellent source of vegetable protein.
“If we grow something that we can consume, we do not depend on the market for buying it. In small patches, we grow vegetables which we consume. We save maize and wheat for our consumption. Now we can add red gram to the diet again. After harvest, we save some for our family’s annual consumption and then we sell the rest,” Alawa revealed.
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The lead image on top depicts Balram Rathore on his farm in Borkhedi village. The entire farm is lined with red gram plants. (Photo by Aishwarya Mohanty)
Aishwarya Mohanty is an independent journalist who reports on themes like the environment, gender, rural issues and social justice.
