Agriculture in Shivamogga 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 Shivamogga itself. What actually trades in Shivamogga's own mandis is listed below. Shivamogga'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 Shivamogga
These are the crops actually trading in Shivamogga's markets (Shimoga APMC, Shimoga(Theertahalli) APMC, Shikaripura APMC, Sagar APMC), with the modal price per quintal reported on 1 June 2026:
| Commodity | Min | Max | Modal Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arecanut(Betelnut/Supari) | ₹30,000 | ₹51,804 | ₹40,668 |
| Black pepper | ₹31,118 | ₹68,500 | ₹67,100 |
| Beans | ₹6,000 | ₹8,000 | ₹7,000 |
| Beetroot | ₹2,000 | ₹2,600 | ₹2,300 |
| Ridgeguard(Tori) | ₹1,000 | ₹1,600 | ₹1,300 |
| Maize | ₹1,980 | ₹2,170 | ₹2,014 |
| Brinjal | ₹1,600 | ₹2,000 | ₹1,800 |
| Green Chilli | ₹3,000 | ₹4,000 | ₹3,500 |
| Cucumbar(Kheera) | ₹1,000 | ₹1,600 | ₹1,300 |
| Capsicum | ₹4,000 | ₹5,000 | ₹4,500 |
Source: Agmarknet daily arrivals for Shivamogga, Karnataka, as of 1 June 2026.
What Shivamogga Actually Grows: Official Crop Statistics
In 2024-25, Shivamogga's largest crops by area were Rice (Paddy), Maize (Corn), Sunflower. Rice (Paddy) alone covered 67,625 ha (61% of the area under the crops listed below), with a yield of 2,882 kg/ha, 14% below the Karnataka average. The biggest shifts since 2019-20: Maize (Corn) area -35%, Rice (Paddy) area -24%.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Production (tonnes) | Yield (kg/ha) | Karnataka avg yield | Area change since 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rice (Paddy) | 67,625 | 1,94,914 | 2,882 | 3,345 | -24% |
| Maize (Corn) | 42,102 | 1,33,963 | 3,182 | 3,234 | -35% |
| Sunflower | 497 | 1,018 | 2,048 | 1,032 | -42% |
| Sugarcane | 425 | 37,812 | 88,985 | 89,000 | -44% |
| Jowar (Sorghum) | 320 | 422 | 1,320 | 1,257 | -5% |
| Ragi (Finger Millet) | 261 | 375 | 1,439 | 1,542 | -51% |
| Moong (Green Gram) | 92 | 28 | 301 | 427 | -79% |
| Cotton | 86 | 289 | 570 | 3,353 | -82% |
| Groundnut | 36 | 33 | 937 | 961 | -70% |
| Arhar (Tur/Pigeon Pea) | 30 | 17 | 572 | 572 | +150% |
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 Shivamogga
Shivamogga receives about 2755 mm of rain in an average year, 85% of it in June-September. The wettest month is July (758 mm). Days are hottest in April (average high 34°C) and nights coolest in January (average low 16°C).
- Rain typically first crosses 100 mm a month in May, the usual cue for kharif sowing here.
- 85% of the year's rain falls in June-September, so rabi and summer crops need assured irrigation.
- At about 2755 mm a year, water is plentiful in season; field drainage matters as much as irrigation, and paddy and plantation crops suit the climate.
| Month | Rain (mm) | Avg high | Avg low |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 1 | 28° | 16° |
| February | 2 | 31° | 17° |
| March | 14 | 33° | 20° |
| April | 33 | 34° | 22° |
| May | 120 | 31° | 23° |
| June | 634 | 27° | 22° |
| July | 758 | 26° | 22° |
| August | 615 | 26° | 22° |
| September | 324 | 26° | 21° |
| October | 195 | 27° | 21° |
| November | 53 | 27° | 19° |
| December | 6 | 27° | 17° |
Source: NASA POWER long-term monthly averages (satellite and model based, so they can understate rain on coasts and hills) for the centre of Shivamogga district (14.0557, 75.2381). These are normals, not a forecast for any one year; for this week see the farm weather forecast.
For Shivamogga Farmers: Solar Pumps & Tractors
Districts Near Shivamogga
Before you sell, compare mandis in neighbouring districts too (straight-line distance between district centres):
- Davanagere - 68 km
- Udupi - 71 km
- Haveri - 75 km
- Chikkamagaluru - 84 km
- Uttara Kannada - 98 km
- Vijayanagara - 131 km
Land records and Farmer ID in Karnataka
Government Schemes for Shivamogga Farmers
Farmers in Shivamogga 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 Shivamogga's ragi growers, the solar pump and drip subsidies are especially valuable. Apply at the Shivamogga district agriculture office, a CSC, or online via the Subsidy Finder.