Failure to intervene could cause not only the loss of a vital food source but also impact the economic sustainability of farmers, say experts.
Two women clean sorghum to take it for flour mill in North Karnataka. (South First)
The cultivation of sorghum, a crucial staple food in North Karnataka, is facing a troubling trajectory marked by consistent decline in recent years.
As per data from Vijayapura’s Regional Agricultural Research Station, the acreage dedicated to sorghum cultivation dropped drastically from 28.86 lakh hectares in 1959-60 to a mere 6.16 lakh hectares by 2022-23.
That is a near-80-percent decline. In other words, a little more than one-fifth of the land from earlier remains under sorghum cultivation.
This sharp decline in cultivation has mirrored a significant drop in production — from 11.67 lakh tonnes to 7.07 lakh tonnes — over the same period.
The downward trend is visible across various districts, with notable decreases recorded in regions like Vijayapura, where sorghum cultivation plummeted from 1,49,508 hectares in 2018-19 to 80,000 hectares in 2023-24.
Similar declines have been observed in the Bagalkot, Gadag, Koppal, Raichur, Kalaburagi, Belagavi, Dharwad, and Haveri districts, reflecting a widespread challenge across the state.
Amidst these concerning statistics, the impact extends beyond mere agricultural figures.
Farmers are voicing their concerns over the lack of a minimum selling price (MSP) for sorghum, exacerbating the economic strain faced by agricultural communities.
This, coupled with labour-intensive harvesting practices and market price fluctuations, has led farmers to opt for commercial crops like sugarcane and toor-dal, further contributing to the decline in sorghum cultivation.
In light of these challenges, urgent action is needed from the government to address the underlying issues and implement strategies to bolster sorghum production, urge experts.
Failure to intervene risks not only the loss of a vital food source but also jeopardises the economic sustainability of farming communities in the region, experts have said.
Sorghum or white sorghum is a staple food in most regions of North Karnataka.
According to reports of Vijayapura’s Regional Agricultural Research Station: “In 1959-60, sorghum commanded a sprawling 28.86 lakh hectares of land, yielding a substantial 11.67 lakh tonnes. However, by 2022-23, these figures had dwindled significantly to a mere 6.16 lakh hectares and 7.07 lakh tonnes, respectively.”
The decline has been impacting the agricultural economy and livelihoods across the region, particularly in the 12 major sorghum-growing districts of Northern Karnataka — including seven districts of the Kalyana Karnataka region.
The data revealed a consistent downward trend in sorghum cultivation in recent years.
In 2018-19, Karnataka reported a total sorghum cultivation area of 9,93,752 hectares, yielding 8,48,624 tonnes, with a corresponding yield of 899 kg per hectare.
The subsequent fiscal year, 2019-20, witnessed a slight dip in sorghum cultivation, with 9,13,988 hectares under cultivation yielding 10,29,790 tonnes, representing a yield of 1,186 kg per hectare.
However, this modest resurgence proved short-lived as sorghum cultivation once again faced a decline in 2020-21.
The area decreased to 7,49,549 hectares, albeit with a higher yield of 1,206 kilograms per hectare, resulting in a total production of 9,03,725 tonnes.
The trend continued into the fiscal year 2021-22, with the sorghum cultivation area shrinking further to 6,15,800 hectares, yielding 7,32,792 tonnes at a rate of 1,190 kg per hectare.
Despite efforts to reverse the trend, the latest available data for 2022-23 paints a mixed picture.
While the total area under sorghum cultivation surged slightly to 6.16 lakh hectare, the production remained relatively stagnant at 7.07 lakh tonnes, with a slight increase in yield to 1,215 kg per hectare.
This comparison of increased cultivation area against stagnant production underscores the complex challenges facing sorghum cultivation in Karnataka.
The situation screams for comprehensive programmes and strategies to address underlying issues and ensuring the revival of this vital crop in the state’s agriculture.
Meanwhile, farmers have listed a litany of concerns regarding their livelihood, including the lack of an MSP for their crop of choice.
In the Vijayapura district, sorghum cultivation started at 1,49,508 hectares in 2018-19, yielding 93,991 tonnes at a productivity of 662 kg per hectare.
However, there was a consistent decline over subsequent years. By 2023-24, the cultivation area plummeted to 80,000 hectares, resulting in a further decline in production.
In Bagalkot, sorghum cultivation began at 96,236 hectares in 2018-19, yielding 56,128 tons with a productivity of 614 kg per hectare.
In the following fiscal years, the region witnessed a further decrease in cultivation, with the area dropping to 58,876 hectares in 2023-24.
A similar downward trend has been recorded in the Gadag, Koppal, Raichur, Kalaburagi, Belagavi, Dharwad, and Haveri districts.
The Karnataka State Farmers Association’s Vijayapura wing Secretary Aravind Kulkarni told South First: “The farmers are increasingly choosing commercial crops over sorghum, considering various factors. The crop needs minimal water supply, but requires more labourers.”
He added: “The lack of mechanised harvesting systems, availability of labourers, unscientific prices for the crop, and a lack of schemes to encourage farmers are some of the reasons for the declining area of sorghum cultivation in the region. Farmers are shifting their preference to sugarcane and toor dal as they need less effort but provide more income.”
Kulkarni, also a farmer by profession, went on to explain: “The dipping trend of sorghum cultivation has severely affected the cattle as well. Sorghum and its leaves are healthy fodder for cattle. Farmers cultivating sorghum for only household purposes has led to poor supply of not only jowar (another name for sorghum) but also fodder in the market.”
Amarappa Bhavi, a resident of Badami, told South First: “Labour and price are forcing these farmers to choose commercial crops over sorghum. The government has to come up with special programmes, such as providing free seeds and subsidies, similar to millet crops.”
He added: “Importantly, the government has to announce the MSP for the crop. At the time of harvesting, the price plunges by ₹2,000-3,000 per quintal. In the off-season, the price goes up to ₹7,500-8,000 per quintal. If the price keeps fluctuating, how will farmers survive?”
Bhavi, who has sown sorghum over around four acres of land, also said: “MSP is long-pending demand from the farmers, but none has heeded our voices. If the state government continues to neglect us, then there are high chances of farmers giving up sorghum and choosing commercial crops.”
Vijayapura’s Regional Agricultural Research Station’s All India Coordinated Sorghum Improvement Project head and Principal Scientist Dr Shreeshail Karabhantanal shed light on the concerning decline in sorghum cultivation in Karnataka, identifying various factors contributing to this trend.
Karabhantanal told South First: “Firstly, the labour-intensive nature of sorghum harvesting coupled with the unavailability of labour during critical periods.”
He added: “Labour intensity during harvesting, compounded by the lack of available labour, poses a significant challenge to sorghum farmers.”
Karabhantanal also pointed to the absence of mechanisation in sorghum production, stating, “The lack of mechanisation hampers efficiency and increases the cost of production for sorghum farmers.”
He highlighted the fluctuation in market prices as well, explaining: “Volatility in market prices adds uncertainty to sorghum cultivation, discouraging farmers from investing in this crop.”
He also said: “The expansion of irrigation areas leading to an increase in sugarcane and chilli cultivation is another concern. The shift towards sugarcane and chilli cultivation has significantly reduced the available land for sorghum cultivation.”
He underscores the growing popularity of chickpea cultivation due to its almost complete mechanisation. “Chickpea cultivation benefits from mechanisation from sowing to harvest, making it a more attractive option for farmers,” emphasised the scientist.
“The availability of chickpea varieties suitable for mechanical harvesting provides farmers with an alternative crop option, diverting their attention away from sorghum,” he said.
“The encroachment of other crops such as ajwain in sorghum-growing regions diminishes the land available for sorghum cultivation,” pointed out Karabhantanal.
He also identified changes in land-use patterns contributing to the decline in sorghum cultivation in Karnataka.
“Addressing these challenges will be crucial in revitalising the sorghum sector and ensuring the sustainability of agriculture in the region,” he concluded.
The dip in the cultivation and production of sorghum is adversely affecting the retail market, with prices surging at unexpected levels every year.
The retail price is hovering anywhere between ₹60-100 per kg across North Karnataka.
Retail shopkeeper Hanumanthappa Shettar told South First: “The price varies on the quality. It has almost doubled in the last three years. It was around ₹25-30 in 2021.”
He explained: “This is the effect of less production and poor supply to the market. Even people have reduced purchasing the sorghum as most of them prefer wheat, considering their price variation as well.”
Shettar added: “Meanwhile, wheat price is hovering around ₹30-40 per kg.”
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