Agriculture in Kalaburagi District: India's tur dal (pigeon pea) bowl
Kalaburagi is one of Karnataka's notable agricultural districts, best known for India's tur dal (pigeon pea) bowl. Its farmland is fed by Bhima, Kagina and sits on predominantly black soil, a combination that favours tur (red gram), jowar, cotton. Unlike a generic state average, Kalaburagi's cropping is shaped by this specific soil-and-water mix, which is why the crops and schemes below are weighted to what actually grows and sells here.
What Grows Best in Kalaburagi
The district's main crops are tur (red gram), Jowar (Sorghum), Cotton. tur (red gram) leads the local economy, so Kalaburagi farmers should track the tur (red gram) rate closely and plan sowing, inputs and storage around it. The black soil here holds moisture well and suits cotton, soybean, pulses and oilseeds.
Crop Calendar for Kalaburagi (Sowing & Harvest)
Based on Kalaburagi's main crops, here is when to sow and harvest locally. Plan inputs, labour and credit around these windows:
| Crop | Season & Window | All-India rate (3 October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| tur (red gram) | Local seasonal crop | - |
| 🌾 Jowar (Sorghum) | Kharif & Rabi | ₹3,608/qtl |
| 🪴 Cotton | Kharif (Sow: Apr-Jun, Pick: Oct-Jan) | ₹8,250/qtl |
Soil, Water & Irrigation in Kalaburagi
With black soil and water from the Bhima, Kagina, the priority for Kalaburagi farmers is matching irrigation to the crop. Drip and sprinkler subsidies and a solar pump can cut water and power costs significantly. A free soil health card tells you exactly which nutrients your plot needs.
Best Way to Sell tur (red gram) from Kalaburagi
Since tur (red gram) is central to Kalaburagi, time your sale using the live tur (red gram) rate. Sell at Kalaburagi Mandi and compare with neighbouring mandis. Grade and clean produce for a 15-20% premium, and list on eNAM to reach buyers beyond Kalaburagi.
Mandi Prices in Kalaburagi
These are the crops actually trading in Kalaburagi's markets (Chincholi APMC), with the modal price per quintal reported on 1 June 2026:
| Commodity | Min | Max | Modal Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red gram/Arhar/Tur(whole) | ₹7,600 | ₹7,800 | ₹7,700 |
Source: Agmarknet daily arrivals for Kalaburagi, Karnataka, as of 1 June 2026.
What Kalaburagi Actually Grows: Official Crop Statistics
In 2024-25, Kalaburagi's largest crops by area were Arhar (Tur/Pigeon Pea), Cotton, Moong (Green Gram). Arhar (Tur/Pigeon Pea) alone covered 6,17,418 ha (68% of the area under the crops listed below), with a yield of 383 kg/ha, 33% below the Karnataka average. The biggest shifts since 2019-20: Sesame (Til) area -91%, Sunflower area -90%.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Production (tonnes) | Yield (kg/ha) | Karnataka avg yield | Area change since 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arhar (Tur/Pigeon Pea) | 6,17,418 | 2,36,419 | 383 | 572 | +2% |
| Cotton | 98,170 | 2,64,659 | 458 | 3,353 | -3% |
| Moong (Green Gram) | 47,065 | 26,209 | 557 | 427 | -39% |
| Jowar (Sorghum) | 41,565 | 52,990 | 1,275 | 1,257 | -59% |
| Urad (Black Gram) | 24,881 | 16,529 | 664 | 587 | -8% |
| Soybean | 19,234 | 22,794 | 1,185 | 1,294 | 0% |
| Gram (Chana) | 19,195 | 14,102 | 735 | 597 | -79% |
| Sugarcane | 11,999 | 9,11,776 | 75,988 | 89,000 | -27% |
| Rice (Paddy) | 10,330 | 28,752 | 2,783 | 3,345 | +6% |
| Wheat | 5,946 | 9,455 | 1,590 | 1,255 | -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 Kalaburagi
Kalaburagi receives about 721 mm of rain in an average year, 75% of it in June-September. The wettest month is September (164 mm). Days are hottest in May (average high 41°C) and nights coolest in December (average low 15°C).
- Rain typically first crosses 100 mm a month in June, the usual cue for kharif sowing here.
- January days still average 32°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 | 3 | 32° | 15° |
| February | 3 | 35° | 18° |
| March | 16 | 38° | 22° |
| April | 24 | 40° | 26° |
| May | 41 | 41° | 27° |
| June | 102 | 34° | 24° |
| July | 131 | 32° | 23° |
| August | 142 | 31° | 22° |
| September | 164 | 30° | 22° |
| October | 78 | 30° | 20° |
| November | 15 | 31° | 17° |
| December | 2 | 31° | 15° |
Source: NASA POWER long-term monthly averages (satellite and model based, so they can understate rain on coasts and hills) for the centre of Kalaburagi district (17.2409, 76.7697). These are normals, not a forecast for any one year; for this week see the farm weather forecast.
For Kalaburagi Farmers: Solar Pumps & Tractors
Districts Near Kalaburagi
Before you sell, compare mandis in neighbouring districts too (straight-line distance between district centres):
- Yadgiri - 67 km
- Bidar - 100 km
- Vikarabad, Telangana - 104 km
- Vijayapura - 105 km
- Narayanpet, Telangana - 108 km
- Latur, Maharashtra - 124 km
Land records and Farmer ID in Karnataka
Government Schemes for Kalaburagi Farmers
Farmers in Kalaburagi 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 Kalaburagi's tur (red gram) growers, crop insurance and the soil health card matter most for the black-soil crops here. Apply at the Kalaburagi district agriculture office, a CSC, or online via the Subsidy Finder.