Agriculture in Bidar 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 Bidar itself. What actually trades in Bidar's own mandis is listed below. Bidar'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 (16 October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 🌾 Ragi (Finger Millet) | Kharif (Sow: Jun-Jul, Harvest: Oct-Nov) | ₹2,776/qtl |
| 🌾 Jowar (Sorghum) | Kharif & Rabi | ₹3,721/qtl |
| 🥜 Groundnut | Kharif (Sow: Jun-Jul, Harvest: Oct-Nov) | ₹7,300/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.
Mandi Prices in Bidar
These are the crops actually trading in Bidar's markets (Bidar APMC, Aurad APMC, Basava Kalayana APMC, Bhalki APMC), with the modal price per quintal reported on 1 June 2026:
| Commodity | Min | Max | Modal Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red gram/Arhar/Tur(whole) | ₹2,828 | ₹8,006 | ₹7,444 |
| Wheat | ₹2,200 | ₹3,475 | ₹2,725 |
| Soyabean | ₹7,100 | ₹7,100 | ₹7,100 |
| Bengal Gram(Gram)(Whole) | ₹4,665 | ₹6,103 | ₹5,926 |
| Bajra(Pearl Millet/Cumbu) | ₹2,100 | ₹2,100 | ₹2,100 |
| Rice | ₹4,900 | ₹5,600 | ₹5,000 |
| Black Gram(Urd Beans)(Whole) | ₹4,858 | ₹5,905 | ₹5,429 |
Source: Agmarknet daily arrivals for Bidar, Karnataka, as of 1 June 2026.
What Bidar Actually Grows: Official Crop Statistics
In 2024-25, Bidar's largest crops by area were Soybean, Arhar (Tur/Pigeon Pea), Gram (Chana). Soybean alone covered 1,92,924 ha (38% of the area under the crops listed below), with a yield of 1,441 kg/ha, 11% above the Karnataka average. The biggest shifts since 2019-20: Sugarcane area +100%, Wheat area +70%.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Production (tonnes) | Yield (kg/ha) | Karnataka avg yield | Area change since 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soybean | 1,92,924 | 2,77,929 | 1,441 | 1,294 | -1% |
| Arhar (Tur/Pigeon Pea) | 1,27,556 | 1,60,048 | 1,255 | 572 | 0% |
| Gram (Chana) | 47,456 | 24,189 | 510 | 597 | -14% |
| Jowar (Sorghum) | 43,868 | 32,640 | 744 | 1,257 | -8% |
| Moong (Green Gram) | 31,250 | 18,437 | 590 | 427 | +17% |
| Sugarcane | 22,622 | 20,13,038 | 88,985 | 89,000 | +100% |
| Urad (Black Gram) | 20,577 | 14,373 | 698 | 587 | +33% |
| Wheat | 9,432 | 8,904 | 944 | 1,255 | +70% |
| Safflower (Kusum) | 9,030 | 7,488 | 829 | 732 | +2% |
| Cotton | 4,032 | 9,933 | 419 | 3,353 | +30% |
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 Bidar
Bidar receives about 859 mm of rain in an average year, 79% of it in June-September. The wettest month is August (203 mm). Days are hottest in May (average high 41°C) and nights coolest in December (average low 13°C).
- Rain typically first crosses 100 mm a month in June, the usual cue for kharif sowing here.
- January days still average 30°C, too warm for wheat to yield well; the cool season suits warm-tolerant pulses, oilseeds and vegetables better.
- May days average 41°C, so summer (zaid) crops and young orchards need frequent irrigation and mulching.
| Month | Rain (mm) | Avg high | Avg low |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7 | 30° | 14° |
| February | 5 | 34° | 17° |
| March | 19 | 37° | 21° |
| April | 23 | 40° | 25° |
| May | 31 | 41° | 27° |
| June | 122 | 34° | 24° |
| July | 189 | 31° | 22° |
| August | 203 | 29° | 21° |
| September | 166 | 29° | 21° |
| October | 79 | 29° | 19° |
| November | 13 | 29° | 15° |
| December | 2 | 29° | 13° |
Source: NASA POWER long-term monthly averages (satellite and model based, so they can understate rain on coasts and hills) for the centre of Bidar district (18.0207, 77.2487). These are normals, not a forecast for any one year; for this week see the farm weather forecast.
For Bidar Farmers: Solar Pumps & Tractors
Districts Near Bidar
Before you sell, compare mandis in neighbouring districts too (straight-line distance between district centres):
- Sangareddy, Telangana - 63 km
- Latur, Maharashtra - 64 km
- Kamareddy, Telangana - 91 km
- Vikarabad, Telangana - 99 km
- Kalaburagi - 100 km
- Medak, Telangana - 102 km
Land records and Farmer ID in Karnataka
Government Schemes for Bidar Farmers
Farmers in Bidar 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 Bidar's ragi growers, the solar pump and drip subsidies are especially valuable. Apply at the Bidar district agriculture office, a CSC, or online via the Subsidy Finder.