Jowar prices hit an all-time high in Karnataka amid drought

In connection with the rise in the prices of rice and toordal, the prices of jowar have also increased in Karnataka amid the drought. Farmers, traders and agriculture experts say that the current price of jowar, a staple commodity in many districts of north Karnataka, has reached its highest level in recent times.

According to APMC traders in Vijayapura and Kalaburagi districts, the price of the famous Maldand variety of jowar has increased from ₹ 5,500 per quintal in September to ₹ 8,500 per quintal at present. The Gundu Thene variety is priced at ₹8,200 per quintal, up from ₹5,000. Last week, the price increased to ₹ 9,200 per quintal for the Maldandi variety and ₹ 9,000 per quintal for the Gundu Thene variety.

There are other factors at play

While drought is the main reason behind the increase, department officials and university experts pointed out that mechanization of almost all other crops in the agriculture sector except jowar and the fixed minimum support price (MSP) from the center are other reasons why jowar prices have increased compared to previous years.

Figures from the agriculture ministry reveal that the sowing achieved in the Kharif season was 0.42 million hectares against the target of 0.80 million hectares, or 53% of the target. Last year in the same season, sowing was completed on 0.39 million hectares against the target of 0.54 million hectares.

Speaking to The Hindu, Santosh Budge, Deputy Director, APMC, Kalaburagi, said, “I have seen prices rise and fall for more than a decade. But this is the first time the price has increased to ₹9,000-9,200 per quintal. This week it has come down to ₹8,500 and ₹8,500 for 50 quintals, I believe the price will remain. and 9,500 ₹.

Highlighting previous prices, Mr Budge said: “In 2022-23, when there was a similar drought situation, the price went up to ₹8,000 per cent. Last year, in October, the price was around ₹6,500 per cent and later it came down to ₹5,000.”

Low inventory

Vijay Hiremath, a jowar trader, said, “At present, market stocks are also low due to various reasons. Some farmers are selling directly to APMC, while others are selling in the open market to traders of their choice at ₹10-15 more than the APMC price. Whether prices will rise further or stabilize will be known only by mid-November in the north when the Karnataka winter season is complete.”

Prof. Suresh KB, expert in post-harvest and engineering technology at the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru (UAS-B), said, “Jowar is a kharif and rabi crop, but the Maldandi and Gundu Thene varieties are mostly grown in the rabi season. Sowing has not started now and will end in the second week of November when millet is grown. Because there is a lot of water needed in November. Karnataka areas, including Vijayapura, Ballari, Raichur, Kalaburagi, Belagavi and Dharwad, many farmers uses the residual moisture method which means he sows jowar soon after the rice is harvested.Residual moisture in the soil helps the growth of jowar.

However, he pointed out that paddy cultivation has also reduced during the kharif season due to insufficient rainfall and low water levels in large reservoirs. “We have to wait and watch the jowar yields in the post-harvest rabi season,” he said. He predicted that prices may remain high until new supplies of rabi arrive.

No mechanization, low MSP

Shivanagouda Patil, joint director of agriculture department, Vijayapura district, said, “Vijayapura has the largest area under jowar cultivation with 0.12 million tonnes in kharif and 0.72 million tonnes in rabi. But over time, farmers have lost interest in cultivation due to lack of mechanisation.” In contrast, toor cultivation, for example, is completely mechanized and offers better yields. While the minimum support price for jowar is ₹ 4,073 per quintal, it is ₹ 8,450 per quintal for toor.

Published – 31 Oct 2026 19:38 IST