1.10.3.3. Sorghum (Jawar) Sorghum (popularly known as jawar) is the main food and fodder crop of dryland agriculture. It is grown over an area of about 18 Mha with the average yield of about 600 kg/ha. Jawar cultivation is concentrated mainly in the peninsular and central India. Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh are the major jawar-growing states. Jawar is mainly grown where rainfall distribution ranges from 10–20 cm per month for at least 3 to 4 months of the south-westerly monsoon.
Sorghum is grown during both Kharif (July–October) and Rabi (October–February) seasons. The Rabi cultivation of jawar constitutes about 37 per cent of the total jawar-growing area. Sorghum cultivation still remains predominantly traditional in most parts of the country. Mixed cropping of jawar and arhar (tur) is very common. Harvesting and threshing are still carried out manually or with bullock power. The national average yields are still low and around 500 kg/ha. However, the high-yielding hybrid varieties can yield 2000–3000 kg/ha under average growing conditions.
