Photo for representation
Nationally, the state’s jowar output in 2023-24 was 17.8 lakh tonnes, nearly 37% of India’s total production of 47.4 lakh tonnes. Because jowar is not merely another rabi crop, for Solapur, the threat is particularly serious. “A steep contraction in Maharashtra’s sowing could therefore affect supply to households and wholesale markets.
Impact would be felt particularly in regions where the grain is a staple and where local varieties command a premium,” said another senior official from the agriculture department. Jowar is a critical crop for the state, central to the daily diet across large parts, particularly in the drought-prone districts of western Maharashtra and Marathwada. In fact, bhakri made from jowar is a daily staple in lakhs of households, commonly consumed with pitla, thecha and vegetables. The district is widely known as Maharashtra’s jowar granary, with Magalveda town famous for its ‘Maldandi’ jowar, a GI-tagged variety valued for flavour and its use in making bhakri. The variant takes roughly four-and-a-half months to mature, but its famous taste has helped sustain a certain reputation among consumers, making the prospect of a poor crop particularly worrying for growers in Magalveda. The Maldandi variant of jowar takes roughly four-and-a-half months to mature. Its taste has helped sustain a certain reputation among consumers, making the prospect of a poor crop particularly worrying for growers in Magalveda. Maharashtra is among India’s leading jowar-producing states, alongside Karnataka and other states in the semi-arid Deccan region.
Jowar prices have risen in some markets, with traders reporting rates touching Rs 10,000 per quintal for certain varieties.
It may then become difficult for ordinary consumers to afford what is essentially a staple,” a trader from Pune said, adding that The crisis has also sparked concerns at markets. “Prices could rise further if there’s a supply shortfall.