Bengaluru farmers turn to pomegranate; production sees sharp rise amidst demand in market
With the growing demand for pomegranates among consumers in the market and good prices, farmers in Bengaluru have started growing the fruit in large numbers
With the growing demand for pomegranates among consumers in the market and good prices, farmers in Bengaluru have started growing the fruit in large numbers now. At present, first-grade or premium quality of one kg pomegranate can easily fetch ₹250 to ₹300 in the market. The second-grade ones are also priced in decent range of ₹150 to ₹170 per kg. Earlier, pomegranate was limited to growing in mostly North Karnataka districts including Bagalkot, Vijayapura and Koppal districts. Farmers in Bengaluru said that these districts are still known as premier pomegranate growing regions in Karnataka because of the semi-arid weather and quality of soil present in these regions. Now, areas like Nelamangala, Yelahanka, Rajanukunte, Chickballapur have become hubs of pomegranate cultivation. The fruit grown in Karnataka is Bagwa. Cultivation grows exponentially According to the data provided by the Horticulture Department, the area of cultivation of pomegranate in Bengaluru Rural has increased from 180 hectares in 2020-21 to 1,154 hectares in 2024-25 thus increasing the production from 1,663 metric tonnes to 12,692 metric tonnes.
In Bengaluru Urban, it has increased from 45 hectares to 27 hectares thus increasing the production from 850 metric tonnes to 2,588 metric tonnes. Muniraju Byatha, a farmer from Rajanukunte, said, “Pomegranate usually grows in hot, dry, semiarid and red soil regions. Since Bengaluru Urban and Rural areas have all these suitable conditions for the cultivation of pomegranate, we have been able to cultivate the fruit. In fact, the size and colour of the fruit grown in Bengaluru are bigger and brighter than what the market receives from areas like Bagalkot, Koppal, Vijayapura and Maharashtra.” Muniraju added, “One unique feature of this fruit is it gives a good yield as soon as it is introduced in the new soil. It also doesn’t require more water to grow. In my farm, I have stopped watering these trees in the end of January.
I have cultivated it in my ten acres of farm. Each fruit weighs somewhere around 200 gms to 300 gms. The harvest will begin in the farms by the end of August, and fruits will be out in the market by September and October.” Chandra N.R., another farmer from Nagadasanahalli, 25 km away from Bengaluru, has also cultivated pomegranate. He said, “Last year, I launched an initiative called farm tourism where people from cities could come, pick their own fruit and take home fresh pomegranates. The initiative drew a lot of consumers especially health enthusiasts from urban areas. I was able to sell more than four tonnes. This year too, I have grown pomegranate but the agents will come and collect the harvest.” However, if the weather is cloudy, soil is wet and if the trees are susceptible to diseases, then fruits get a disease called Bacterial Blight, which is known as Macche Roga.
The BriefWire