Agriculture in Hassan 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 Hassan itself. What actually trades in Hassan's own mandis is listed below. Hassan'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 Hassan
These are the crops actually trading in Hassan's markets (Arasikere APMC), with the modal price per quintal reported on 1 June 2026:
| Commodity | Min | Max | Modal Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ragi(Finger Millet) | ₹4,409 | ₹4,409 | ₹4,409 |
| Copra | ₹10,000 | ₹10,050 | ₹10,000 |
Source: Agmarknet daily arrivals for Hassan, Karnataka, as of 1 June 2026.
What Hassan Actually Grows: Official Crop Statistics
In 2024-25, Hassan's largest crops by area were Ragi (Finger Millet), Maize (Corn), Rice (Paddy). Ragi (Finger Millet) alone covered 1,08,474 ha (42% of the area under the crops listed below), with a yield of 1,104 kg/ha, 28% below the Karnataka average. The biggest shifts since 2019-20: Rice (Paddy) area -51%, Jowar (Sorghum) area -48%.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Production (tonnes) | Yield (kg/ha) | Karnataka avg yield | Area change since 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ragi (Finger Millet) | 1,08,474 | 1,19,723 | 1,104 | 1,542 | +42% |
| Maize (Corn) | 1,07,864 | 4,29,136 | 3,978 | 3,234 | +6% |
| Rice (Paddy) | 22,495 | 77,228 | 3,433 | 3,345 | -51% |
| Jowar (Sorghum) | 8,574 | 10,749 | 1,254 | 1,257 | -48% |
| Tobacco | 6,892 | 4,240 | 615 | 468 | -32% |
| Moong (Green Gram) | 3,014 | 514 | 171 | 427 | +469% |
| Sugarcane | 2,373 | 2,11,125 | 88,985 | 89,000 | -19% |
| Cotton | 426 | 1,147 | 458 | 3,353 | +21% |
| Sesame (Til) | 339 | 331 | 977 | 699 | +24% |
| Urad (Black Gram) | 284 | 66 | 232 | 587 | +62% |
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 Hassan
Hassan receives about 1418 mm of rain in an average year, 72% of it in June-September. The wettest month is July (316 mm). Days are hottest in March (average high 34°C) and nights coolest in January (average low 13°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 | 1 | 28° | 13° |
| February | 4 | 32° | 15° |
| March | 20 | 34° | 19° |
| April | 52 | 34° | 21° |
| May | 123 | 31° | 21° |
| June | 256 | 27° | 19° |
| July | 316 | 25° | 19° |
| August | 255 | 25° | 19° |
| September | 187 | 26° | 18° |
| October | 141 | 26° | 18° |
| November | 52 | 26° | 16° |
| December | 11 | 26° | 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 Hassan district (13.0302, 76.1745). These are normals, not a forecast for any one year; for this week see the farm weather forecast.
For Hassan Farmers: Solar Pumps & Tractors
Districts Near Hassan
Before you sell, compare mandis in neighbouring districts too (straight-line distance between district centres):
- Chikkamagaluru - 71 km
- Mandya - 74 km
- Tumakuru - 88 km
- Kodagu - 91 km
- Mysuru - 104 km
- Dakshina Kannada - 105 km
Land records and Farmer ID in Karnataka
Government Schemes for Hassan Farmers
Farmers in Hassan 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 Hassan's ragi growers, the solar pump and drip subsidies are especially valuable. Apply at the Hassan district agriculture office, a CSC, or online via the Subsidy Finder.