Mustard adds spice to Karnataka rice bowl in rabi season
- Mustard, grown mainly in north and eastern India, has entered Karnataka in a big way with paddy farmers in the Tungabhadra command area cultivating it as the second crop (rabi crop). According to agriculture department data, the edible oil crop is now grown on around 7,000 hectares in Koppal district and has penetrated Raichur and Ballari districts as well.
- Paddy coverage is around 49,000 hectares in Koppal district, it is grown only on 7,000 hectares in the rabi season with borewell water. Tungabhadra reservoir has a command area of 9.26 lakh acres.
- The average expenditure is Rs 3,000 an acre for seeds and pesticides. Profits from mustard are expected to be slightly higher than paddy, which is Rs 15,000-Rs 20,000 an acre.
