Agriculture in Bengaluru Urban District: Southern Plateau and Hills
Karnataka falls mainly in the Southern Plateau and Hills agro-climatic zone (semi-arid, 677-1000mm of rain a year across the zone), where rain-fed millet, groundnut and chilli belt of the southern Deccan is typical. Soils in this zone are mostly red sandy loam and shallow black soil. Crops commonly grown across the zone include Ragi (Finger Millet), Jowar (Sorghum), Groundnut, pulses, Cotton, chilli, oilseeds.
These are zone-level facts (ICAR / Planning Commission agro-climatic classification), not a crop census of Bengaluru Urban itself. Bengaluru Urban's own month-by-month rainfall and temperatures are in the climate section.
Crop Calendar for the Southern Plateau and Hills
| Crop | Season & Window | All-India rate (17 October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 🌾 Ragi (Finger Millet) | Kharif (Sow: Jun-Jul, Harvest: Oct-Nov) | ₹2,776/qtl |
| 🌾 Jowar (Sorghum) | Kharif & Rabi | ₹4,750/qtl |
| 🥜 Groundnut | Kharif (Sow: Jun-Jul, Harvest: Oct-Nov) | ₹7,250/qtl |
| pulses | Local seasonal crop | - |
| 🪴 Cotton | Kharif (Sow: Apr-Jun, Pick: Oct-Jan) | ₹8,300/qtl |
| chilli | Local seasonal crop | - |
| oilseeds | Local seasonal crop | - |
Soil, Water & Irrigation
Drip and sprinkler subsidies (45-90%) and a solar pump cut water and power costs. Because soils vary field to field inside a zone, a free soil health card is the only reliable guide to what your own plot needs.
What Bengaluru Urban Actually Grows: Official Crop Statistics
In 2024-25, Bengaluru Urban's largest crops by area were Ragi (Finger Millet), Jowar (Sorghum), Maize (Corn). Ragi (Finger Millet) alone covered 16,519 ha (90% of the area under the crops listed below), with a yield of 1,851 kg/ha, 20% above the Karnataka average.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Production (tonnes) | Yield (kg/ha) | Karnataka avg yield | Area change since 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ragi (Finger Millet) | 16,519 | 30,569 | 1,851 | 1,542 | -12% |
| Jowar (Sorghum) | 565 | 1,120 | 1,982 | 1,257 | -72% |
| Maize (Corn) | 542 | 2,131 | 3,932 | 3,234 | -74% |
| Arhar (Tur/Pigeon Pea) | 395 | 226 | 572 | 572 | -59% |
| Rice (Paddy) | 187 | 567 | 3,030 | 3,345 | -69% |
| Sugarcane | 12 | 1,069 | 88,985 | 89,000 | -74% |
| Groundnut | 10 | 9 | 930 | 961 | -93% |
| Niger Seed | 9 | 2 | 253 | 410 | -57% |
| Castor | 6 | 4 | 663 | 663 | -21% |
| Sunflower | 6 | 6 | 986 | 1,032 | +1% |
Source: Directorate of Economics & Statistics, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Govt of India (final estimates), via UPAg. Field crops only - vegetables, fruit and spices are counted separately. Karnataka average = sum of the state's district estimates.
Climate & Sowing Windows in Bengaluru Urban
Bengaluru Urban receives about 844 mm of rain in an average year, 52% of it in June-September. The wettest month is September (152 mm). Days are hottest in April (average high 35°C) and nights coolest in January (average low 14°C).
- Rain typically first crosses 100 mm a month in May, the usual cue for kharif sowing here.
| Month | Rain (mm) | Avg high | Avg low |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 2 | 29° | 14° |
| February | 5 | 32° | 15° |
| March | 17 | 35° | 19° |
| April | 57 | 35° | 21° |
| May | 110 | 33° | 21° |
| June | 76 | 29° | 20° |
| July | 100 | 28° | 19° |
| August | 113 | 28° | 19° |
| September | 152 | 28° | 19° |
| October | 141 | 27° | 18° |
| November | 56 | 26° | 16° |
| December | 15 | 27° | 14° |
Source: NASA POWER long-term monthly averages (satellite and model based, so they can understate rain on coasts and hills) for the centre of Bengaluru Urban district (12.9462, 77.5504). These are normals, not a forecast for any one year; for this week see the farm weather forecast.
For Bengaluru Urban Farmers: Solar Pumps & Tractors
Districts Near Bengaluru Urban
Before you sell, compare mandis in neighbouring districts too (straight-line distance between district centres):
- Bengaluru Rural - 34 km
- Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu - 69 km
- Chikkaballapura - 76 km
- Kolar - 82 km
- Tumakuru - 90 km
- Mandya - 96 km
Land records and Farmer ID in Karnataka
Government Schemes for Bengaluru Urban Farmers
Farmers in Bengaluru Urban are eligible for PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Kisan Credit Card, Soil Health Card Scheme, PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, eNAM - National Agriculture Market and more. For Bengaluru Urban's ragi growers, the solar pump and drip subsidies are especially valuable. Apply at the Bengaluru Urban district agriculture office, a CSC, or online via the Subsidy Finder.