K.M. Boraiah1, H.B. Santosh, C.B. Harisha, P.S. Basavaraj, N.K. Bhojaraja, B.K. Alam, S. Savitha, H.M. Halli, P. Kate Chia, crop, rainfed, agriculture, potential 221-227 2 (5) September, 2026 Climate change, declining water availability, and the need for nutritional security have intensified the search for alternative crops suitable for rainfed agriculture. Chia (Salvia hispanica L.), an ancient crop native to Central America, has emerged as a promising functional food crop due to its exceptional nutritional composition, adaptability to low-input environments, and increasing global market demand.