The graph below shows per hectare yield of rainfed ragi from 2006 to 2010. It is
evident that there is a decline in the yield of ragi for 2008 (1408 kg) and 2009
(1389 kg), respectively. The reason could be that there was a below average rainfall
in 2009 (532 mm) (Fig. 12).
Ragi is still the staple food and several farmers cultivate ragi as it is rainfed and
instead of leaving the land barren, they prefer to cultivate ragi. Besides, changing
cropping pattern from cultivating food grains to eucalyptus plantations, vegetables,
and flowers, due to factors like demand from nearby town Hoskote and Bangalore
city, combined with challenges of water scarcity, labor problems, high input costs,
and low profits. This has also effected the changes in the coverage of agricultural
land as shown in Table 18.
Fig. 11 Area under cereals and pulses in Hoskote Taluk. Source Agriculture census
Table 17 Cultivable and uncultivable land in Hoskote Taluk
Land not available for cultivation
1995–96
1999–2000
2010–11
Nonagriculture
1049
9438
10,942
Barren
9008
1049
1049
Other uncultivable land
Cultivable waste
750
978
498
Permanent pasture
660
500
356
Tress and Groves
6226
6245
1584
Area sown (ha)
Net
28,220
27,910
34,130
More than once
6300
4750
2148
Source Annual season and crop report, various issues, District Handbook
496
S. Manasi et al.
evident that there is a decline in the yield of ragi for 2008 (1408 kg) and 2009
(1389 kg), respectively. The reason could be that there was a below average rainfall
in 2009 (532 mm) (Fig. 12).
Ragi is still the staple food and several farmers cultivate ragi as it is rainfed and
instead of leaving the land barren, they prefer to cultivate ragi. Besides, changing
cropping pattern from cultivating food grains to eucalyptus plantations, vegetables,
and flowers, due to factors like demand from nearby town Hoskote and Bangalore
city, combined with challenges of water scarcity, labor problems, high input costs,
and low profits. This has also effected the changes in the coverage of agricultural
land as shown in Table 18.
Fig. 11 Area under cereals and pulses in Hoskote Taluk. Source Agriculture census
Table 17 Cultivable and uncultivable land in Hoskote Taluk
Land not available for cultivation
1995–96
1999–2000
2010–11
Nonagriculture
1049
9438
10,942
Barren
9008
1049
1049
Other uncultivable land
Cultivable waste
750
978
498
Permanent pasture
660
500
356
Tress and Groves
6226
6245
1584
Area sown (ha)
Net
28,220
27,910
34,130
More than once
6300
4750
2148
Source Annual season and crop report, various issues, District Handbook
496
S. Manasi et al.