Which is the main food crop of the semi-arid areas of central and southern India?

Jowar (sorghum) is the main food crop of the semi-arid regions of central and southern India, especially the Deccan Plateau in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana and parts of Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. It is a staple food for many people in these dry areas, eaten as bhakri or roti.

Why jowar suits semi-arid areas:

• It is drought-tolerant and needs only about 30 to 100 cm of rainfall.
• It can grow on poor and shallow soils, as well as on black soils.
• It grows well at high temperatures (about 25 to 32 degrees Celsius).
• It has a deep root system and can survive periods of moisture stress, becoming dormant during drought and resuming growth when rain comes.

Seasons:

• Jowar is grown as both a kharif crop and a rabi crop.
• In the Deccan, rabi jowar is grown on moisture-retentive black soils after the rains, especially in Maharashtra and Karnataka.
• Kharif jowar is grown in other areas, mainly for grain and fodder.

Uses:

• Food grain (roti, bhakri, porridge).
• Fodder for animals: its stalks are an important source of cattle feed.

Nutritional value:

Jowar is gluten-free and rich in fibre, protein, iron and antioxidants. It has a low glycaemic index, which makes it good for people with diabetes.

Production:

• Maharashtra is the largest producer of jowar in India, followed by Karnataka.
• The Indian Institute of Millets Research (earlier the Directorate of Sorghum Research) is located in Hyderabad.

Area trend:

The area under jowar has declined over the decades, as farmers in many places have shifted to crops such as soybean, cotton, maize and pulses.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Rice is the main food crop of the eastern and southern humid regions and coastal deltas, which receive heavy rainfall.
• ✗Maize is grown widely but is more important as feed and industrial raw material.
• ✗Barley is a rabi crop of the northern plains and is not a major food crop of the Deccan.