Shivpuri Guna Chambal Wheat Oilseed Coriander Farming

Shivpuri and Guna districts on the Chambal plateau in northern Madhya Pradesh grow wheat and mustard as their principal rabi crops under canal irrigation from the Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal link, and are significant producers of coriander (dhania) which gives the Malwa-Chambal plateau its distinctive culinary fragrance. Guna district's Parashurampur area has a coriander market where tens of thousands of bags of Rajouri-Guna coriander — preferred by spice traders for its balanced flavour — are traded during the March-April harvest season. The Chambal ravines in Shivpuri district were historically a dacoit territory made famous by Phoolan Devi and Chambal bandits of the 1970s-80s; the same ravines are now a Gharial and Chambal river dolphin sanctuary.