Madhya Pradesh: On Betul four-lane highway divider, lush crop of soybean

BHOPAL: Those driving from Bhopal to Betul down the newly built four-lane highway are puzzled by the foliage on the divider close to town. It’s not the usual colourful leaves or gnarly shrubs, but lush green… soybean .

And no, it’s not part of the highway greenprint, but kisan jugaad at work.

A farmer, now identified as Lalla Yadav of Urdan village, planted soybean on the highway divider for the earthy reason that he had some seeds left over.

The administration isn’t amused though and has ordered an investigation.

Yadav, who doesn’t understand the fuss over it, has his farm near the highway, about 5km from Betul town.

“The crop has been cultivated on 100 metres of the road divider on the four-lane highway. On being questioned, farmer Lalla Yadav said he had some seeds left over after his cultivation. The seeds were costly and medicated so he sowed it on the divider instead of wasting them,” Betul tehsildar Om Prakash Chorma told TOI.

NHAI to be informed about Soya cultivation on divider

It is not a large cultivation, but it seems awkward that crops were cultivated in the middle of a highway. Whatever be the intention of the farmer -- it doesn’t seem to be one of encroachment – we have sought a report from the local patwari. The NHAI will be informed,” Chorma said.

The administration has let the crop be, for now, and is waiting for the probe report.

According to sources, Yadav has told officials that he had 5kg of soybean seeds, which would have gone to waste.

“The soil is good on the dividers, so I sowed the seeds,” he said.