🟩 Jowar Farming: Methods, Yield, Cost & Profit Guide 2025

Jowar (Sorghum) is one of India’s most important coarse grain crops. In Uttar Pradesh, it is primarily cultivated in districts like Jhansi, Hamirpur, Jalaun, Banda, Fatehpur, Allahabad, Farrukhabad, Mathura, and Hardoi.
The cultivation area, irrigated land, production, and productivity of jowar have shown consistent improvement over the last five years.

Jowar is a drought-tolerant, low-cost, highly nutritious crop, making it an excellent choice for small and marginal farmers.
This comprehensive guide covers land selection, sowing, improved varieties, fertilizer management, irrigation, weed control, pest and disease management, harvesting, and profitability.

🟩 Suitable Regions and Importance of Jowar Farming

Jowar grows best in hot and semi-arid climates. It performs well even under limited water conditions, which is why it is widely cultivated in Bundelkhand and similar dry areas.

Major Uses:

• Grain as food
• Green fodder for livestock
• Dry fodder
• Food products like roti, porridge, flakes, etc.

Jowar contains protein, fiber, minerals, and iron, making it a highly nutritious and health-friendly grain.

🟩 Improved and Recommended Jowar Varieties

To achieve better yields, farmers should always use pure, certified seeds suitable for their local climate.

🟦 Composite (Sankul) Varieties

Variety	Duration (days)	Height (cm)	Grain Yield (q/ha)	Dry Fodder (q/ha)	Characteristics	Suitable Area
Varsha	125–130	200–220	25–30	100–110	Light brown grains	All UP except Bundelkhand
CSB 13	105–111	160–180	22–27	100–110	Shiny light brown	All UP
CSB 15	105–110	220–240	23–28	100–110	Shiny light brown	All UP
SPB-1388 (Bundela)	110–115	240–250	30–35	115–120	Pearl-like white grains	All UP
Vijeta	100–110	240–250	30–35	115–120	Well-formed panicle	All UP

🟦 Hybrid Varieties

Variety	Duration (days)	Height (cm)	Grain Yield (q/ha)	Dry Fodder (q/ha)	Area
CSH 16	105–110	200	38–42	90–95	UP
CSH 9	110–115	175–200	35–40	80–100	UP
CSH 14	100–105	180–200	35–40	80–100	UP
CSH 18	115–125	180–200	35–40	80–100	UP
CSH 13	115–125	160–180	35–40	80–100	UP
CSH 23	120–125	180–200	40–45	75–120	UP

🟩 Field Selection and Preparation

Jowar grows best in sandy loam soil with good drainage.
In Bundelkhand, it is also grown in medium-heavy and sloping land.

Field Preparation:

• First ploughing with a mouldboard plough
• 2–3 additional ploughings with country plough or cultivator
• Make the soil fine, weed-free, and level
• Remove crop residues for better pest control

🟩 Sowing (Planting Method)

🟦 Best Time for Sowing

The ideal sowing period is:
Last week of June to the first week of July

🟦 Seed Rate

• Hybrid varieties: 7–8 kg/ha
• Composite varieties: 10–12 kg/ha

🟦 Seed Treatment

For every 1 kg of seed:

• Thiram – 2.5 g/kg
• For termite control: Chlorpyriphos – 25 ml/kg

Seed treatment improves germination and protects against early-season diseases.

🟦 Spacing

• Row to row: 45 cm
• Plant to plant: 15–20 cm
• In late-maturing pigeon pea fields, sow one row of jowar between two rows of pigeon pea

🟩 Fertilizer Management

Always apply fertilizers based on soil testing.

For Hybrid Varieties:

40:20:20 kg/ha (N:P:K)

For Composite Varieties:

80:20:20 kg/ha (N:P:K)

Application Method:

• Half nitrogen + full phosphorus and potash at sowing
• Remaining half nitrogen 30–35 days after sowing

Apply fertilizers below the seed line in furrows.

🟩 Irrigation Management

Although jowar is drought-tolerant, two irrigations are essential:

1️⃣ At the booting (panicle initiation) stage

2️⃣ At grain-filling stage

Lack of moisture during these stages can reduce yield by 20–30%.

🟩 Weed Control and Intercultivation

• First weeding: 15 days after germination
• Second weeding: 35–40 days after sowing

🟦 Chemical Weed Control

• Atrazine
  • Light soil: 1.25 kg/ha
  • Medium/Heavy soil: 2 kg/ha
• Spray in 500 liters water per hectare
• Apply within 2 days of sowing

Where Patharchatta weed is absent:

• Lasso 50 EC (Alachlor) – 5 L/ha

For hardy weeds:

• Atrataf + Stomp 30 EC or Treflan 48 EC
• 1 liter per acre
• 200 liters water

🟩 Pest & Insect Management in Jowar

🟦 1. Shoot Fly

Identification:
Small fly that damages seedlings by drying the central shoot.

Control:

• Quinalphos 25 EC – 1.5 L/ha

🟦 2. Stem Borer

Identification:
Larvae bore into stems and damage the central whorl.

Control:

• Carbofuran 3G – 20 kg/ha
• Phorate 10G – 20 kg/ha

🟦 3. Ear Head Midge

Identification:
Red-colored maggots suck grain juice, causing shriveled grains.

Control:

• Carbaryl 50% WP – 1.25 kg/ha

🟦 4. Jowar Mite

Identification:
Tiny mite feeding inside webs under leaves.

Control:

• Dimethoate 30 EC – 1 L/ha
• Chlorpyriphos 25 EC – 1.5–2 L/ha

🟩 Major Diseases in Jowar

🟦 Grey Mold (Brown Fungus)

Symptoms:
White fungal growth on panicles; grains become light, brittle.

Control:

• Mancozeb – 2 kg/ha
• 700–800 liters water spray

🟦 Termites

• Chlorpyriphos 20 EC – 2.5 L/ha (through irrigation)

🟦 Nematodes

• Before sowing: Phorate 10G – 10 kg/ha

🟩 Key Success Tips for Jowar Farming

• Use only recommended improved varieties
• Sow at the right time
• Treat seeds before sowing
• Apply fertilizers as per soil test
• Give irrigation at panicle and grain stages
• Control pests and diseases in early stages
• Perform timely weeding
• Avoid waterlogging
• Follow crop rotation
• Use proper herbicides for weed control

🟩Income and Profit from Jowar Farming

Expected Yield per Hectare:

• Grain: 25–40 quintals
• Dry fodder: 80–120 quintals

Profitability:

• Total Cost: ₹10,000–₹15,000 per hectare
• Gross Income: ₹30,000–₹60,000
• Net Profit: ₹20,000–₹45,000 per hectare

Farmers can earn additional income by selling dry fodder.

🟩 FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

❓1. What is the best time for sowing jowar?

✔ Last week of June to first week of July.

❓2. What type of soil is best for jowar?

✔ Sandy loam soil with good drainage.

❓3. What is the seed rate for jowar?

✔ 7–8 kg/ha for hybrids, 10–12 kg/ha for composite types.

❓4. Which jowar varieties give the highest yield?

✔ CSH 16, CSH 14, SPB-1388, Vijeta, CSB 13.

❓5. How many irrigations are required?

✔ Two—panicle initiation and grain filling.

❓6. What are common diseases in jowar?

✔ Grey mold, stem rot, leaf spot, termites.

❓7. How to control shoot fly in jowar?

✔ Quinalphos 25 EC – 1.5 L/ha.

❓8. Is jowar good as fodder?

✔ Yes, it is nutritious and easily digestible.

❓9. What is the average yield?

✔ 25–40 quintals grain and 80–120 quintals dry fodder per hectare.

❓10. Is jowar farming profitable?

✔ Yes, it is a low-cost, high-profit crop for farmers.

🟩 A Motivational Message for Indian Farmers

Jowar is a highly beneficial crop that requires low investment, less water, and grows well even in dry regions. Farmers who adopt improved varieties, timely sowing, proper fertilizer management, and effective pest control can significantly increase their yield.

With rising demand in the food and fodder industry, and growing health awareness, jowar is becoming an economically rewarding crop.
Dear farmers, your dedication and hard work shape India’s agricultural future.
Adopt modern techniques, believe in your abilities, and success will always follow.

👉 Explore detailed guides on other food grains farming – click here to read more.