Bengaluru farmers turn to pomegranate; production is seeing sharp growth amid market demand

According to data provided by the Horticulture Department, the area under pomegranate cultivation in Bengaluru Rural has increased from 180 hectares in 2020-21 to 1,154 hectares in 2024-25 | Photo credit: SUDHAKARA JAIN

With increasing demand for pomegranates among market consumers and good prices, farmers in Bengaluru have now started growing the fruit in large scale.

Currently, a premium or premium quality one kg pomegranate can easily fetch ₹250 to ₹300 in the market. The latter grades are also affordable at a decent range of ₹150 to ₹170 per kg.

Earlier, pomegranate was restricted to cultivation mainly in North Karnataka districts including Bagalkot, Vijayapura and Koppal districts. Farmers in Bengaluru said that these areas are still known as the premier pomegranate growing areas in Karnataka due to the semi-arid weather and soil quality of these areas.

Now areas like Nelamangala, Yelahanka, Rajanukunte, Chickballapur have become centers of pomegranate cultivation. The fruit grown in Karnataka is Bagwa.

Cultivation grows exponentially

According to data provided by the horticulture department, the area under pomegranate cultivation in Bengaluru Rural has increased from 180 hectares in 2020-21 to 1,154 hectares in 2024-25, increasing production from 1,663 metric tonnes to 12,692 metric tonnes. In Bengaluru Urban, it increased from 45 hectares to 27 hectares, increasing production from 850 metric tonnes to 2,588 metric tonnes.

Muniraju Byatha, a farmer from Rajanukunte, said, “Pomegranate usually grows in hot, dry, semi-arid and red soil areas. Since the urban and rural areas of Bengaluru have all these suitable conditions for growing pomegranate, we have been able to cultivate the fruit. In fact, the size and color of the fruit grown in Bengaluru, like Bagkot market, gets bigger and brighter areas than Bagkot. Vijayapura and Maharashtra.”

Mr. Muniraju added, “One unique feature of this fruit is that it gives a good yield once it is introduced in a new soil. It also does not need more water to grow. In my farm, I stopped watering these trees at the end of January. I have grown them in my 10-hectare farm. Each fruit weighs somewhere around 200 gm to 300 gm, harvest will begin in late August. in the market in September and October.”

Chandra NR, another farmer from Nagadasanahalli, 25 km from Bengaluru, also grew pomegranate.

He said: “Last year, I started an initiative called farm tourism, where people from cities could come, pick their own fruit and take home fresh pomegranates. The initiative attracted many consumers, especially health enthusiasts from urban areas. I managed to sell more than four tons. I also grew pomegranate this year, but the agents come and collect the crop.”

However, if the weather is cloudy, the soil is wet, and if the trees are prone to disease, then the fruit will get a disease called Bacterial Blight, which is known as Macche Roga.

Krishnamurthy, Joint Director, Department of Horticulture (Planning), said, “This disease is common in pomegranate. As per the advice of experienced farmers, it should be grown with less human intervention. Excessive use of fertilizers, watering gives the pathogens an opportunity to grow and destroy the host, in this case it is pomegranate. It causes dark oily spots and also reduces the yield by 50% on the fruit. 100%.”

Published – 16 Jul 2026 20:48 IST