Agriculture in Dharwad 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 Dharwad itself. What actually trades in Dharwad's own mandis is listed below. Dharwad'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 (3 October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 🌾 Ragi (Finger Millet) | Kharif (Sow: Jun-Jul, Harvest: Oct-Nov) | ₹2,776/qtl |
| 🌾 Jowar (Sorghum) | Kharif & Rabi | ₹3,608/qtl |
| 🥜 Groundnut | Kharif (Sow: Jun-Jul, Harvest: Oct-Nov) | ₹6,913/qtl |
| pulses | Local seasonal crop | - |
| 🪴 Cotton | Kharif (Sow: Apr-Jun, Pick: Oct-Jan) | ₹8,250/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 Dharwad
These are the crops actually trading in Dharwad's markets (Hubballi APMC), with the modal price per quintal reported on 1 June 2026:
| Commodity | Min | Max | Modal Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Gram(Urd Beans)(Whole) | ₹2,229 | ₹6,689 | ₹4,704 |
| Jowar(Sorghum) | ₹1,335 | ₹4,326 | ₹3,407 |
| Bengal Gram(Gram)(Whole) | ₹1,621 | ₹6,229 | ₹4,930 |
| Groundnut | ₹4,420 | ₹6,661 | ₹5,582 |
| Red gram/Arhar/Tur(whole) | ₹5,526 | ₹5,526 | ₹5,526 |
| Mataki | ₹6,329 | ₹15,011 | ₹9,300 |
| Wheat | ₹2,007 | ₹3,589 | ₹2,455 |
| Soyabean | ₹6,949 | ₹6,949 | ₹6,949 |
| Onion | ₹400 | ₹1,800 | ₹1,600 |
| Potato | ₹1,200 | ₹1,700 | ₹1,500 |
Source: Agmarknet daily arrivals for Dharwad, Karnataka, as of 1 June 2026.
What Dharwad Actually Grows: Official Crop Statistics
In 2024-25, Dharwad's largest crops by area were Gram (Chana), Moong (Green Gram), Maize (Corn). Gram (Chana) alone covered 1,59,631 ha (31% of the area under the crops listed below), with a yield of 767 kg/ha, 28% above the Karnataka average. The biggest shifts since 2019-20: Urad (Black Gram) area +185%, Moong (Green Gram) area +170%.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Production (tonnes) | Yield (kg/ha) | Karnataka avg yield | Area change since 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gram (Chana) | 1,59,631 | 1,22,368 | 767 | 597 | +96% |
| Moong (Green Gram) | 1,31,359 | 86,687 | 660 | 427 | +170% |
| Maize (Corn) | 68,908 | 2,17,254 | 3,153 | 3,234 | +22% |
| Soybean | 37,090 | 38,719 | 1,044 | 1,294 | +14% |
| Cotton | 31,548 | 64,522 | 348 | 3,353 | -62% |
| Jowar (Sorghum) | 29,956 | 28,631 | 956 | 1,257 | -24% |
| Groundnut | 14,241 | 15,193 | 1,067 | 961 | -61% |
| Urad (Black Gram) | 12,329 | 6,631 | 538 | 587 | +185% |
| Wheat | 10,952 | 10,975 | 1,002 | 1,255 | -50% |
| Sugarcane | 9,744 | 5,74,773 | 58,990 | 89,000 | +23% |
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 Dharwad
Dharwad receives about 1066 mm of rain in an average year, 76% of it in June-September. The wettest month is July (243 mm). Days are hottest in April (average high 38°C) and nights coolest in January (average low 14°C).
- Rain typically first crosses 100 mm a month in June, the usual cue for kharif sowing here.
- January days still average 31°C, too warm for wheat to yield well; the cool season suits warm-tolerant pulses, oilseeds and vegetables better.
| Month | Rain (mm) | Avg high | Avg low |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 1 | 31° | 14° |
| February | 2 | 34° | 16° |
| March | 14 | 37° | 19° |
| April | 33 | 38° | 22° |
| May | 69 | 35° | 22° |
| June | 202 | 29° | 21° |
| July | 243 | 27° | 21° |
| August | 214 | 27° | 20° |
| September | 152 | 27° | 20° |
| October | 103 | 28° | 19° |
| November | 29 | 29° | 16° |
| December | 4 | 29° | 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 Dharwad district (15.3707, 75.1333). These are normals, not a forecast for any one year; for this week see the farm weather forecast.
For Dharwad Farmers: Solar Pumps & Tractors
Districts Near Dharwad
Before you sell, compare mandis in neighbouring districts too (straight-line distance between district centres):
- Gadag - 59 km
- Haveri - 77 km
- Uttara Kannada - 89 km
- Belagavi - 91 km
- Vijayanagara - 109 km
- Bagalkote - 113 km
Land records and Farmer ID in Karnataka
Government Schemes for Dharwad Farmers
Farmers in Dharwad 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 Dharwad's ragi growers, the solar pump and drip subsidies are especially valuable. Apply at the Dharwad district agriculture office, a CSC, or online via the Subsidy Finder.