Karnataka's Pulse Bowl in Crisis: Delayed Monsoon Threatens Red Gram Crop
The delayed and weak southwest monsoon has left farmers in the Kalyana Karnataka region facing an uncertain kharif season. In Kalaburagi district, known as India's pulses bowl, red gram production is likely to decline sharply if rainfall does not revive in the next two weeks.
As of end-June, only 30% of the targeted 8.9 lakh hectares had been sown, compared to 63% during the same period in 2025. Red gram, the district's main crop, has been planted on just 1.3 lakh hectares against a target of 6.3 lakh hectares. Sowing of black gram and green gram has also fallen significantly. The district recorded only 69.2 mm of rainfall in June against a normal of 107.3 mm, making farmers hesitant to sow.
Sudarshan Reddy, a farmer from Kallur village in Chincholi taluk, has not yet sown red gram on his 40 acres. “If there is no rain for the next two weeks, I will have to abandon red gram and switch to chickpea or jowar,” he said.
According to farmer leader Sharanabasappa Mamshetti, while there is still time for red gram, the window for green gram and black gram has virtually closed.
The situation is similarly grim in Raichur and Yadgir districts, where cotton and pigeon pea growers are anxiously awaiting rain. In both districts, cotton sowing has crossed 80%, and the plants urgently need moisture. “I have sown cotton on five acres. Most of it has dried up. All we can do now is wait for rain,” said Chandrashekhar Gowda Bilwar of Hadanur village in Yadgir.
Farmers are preparing to re-sow where germination has failed but are unwilling to risk further investment until rain returns. Sugarcane farmers along the Bhima basin are also distressed, as nearly 1 lakh acres of sugarcane show moisture stress due to dwindling water availability.
Agriculture officials have activated contingency plans. Joint Director of Agriculture Samad Patel said farmers are being advised to switch to maize or sunflower. With sowing windows narrowing and crop establishment delayed, agricultural scientists and farmer organisations say the next fortnight will be decisive for the region's kharif prospects.
