Growing Blackgram

Summary

• Farmer Aibathula Venkateswara Rao at Pedda Kottala village, Nandyala mandal/district (formerly Kurnool) — 15 acres blackgram this year (PU-37 variety, also rotates PU-31); typically alternates with jowar (white) and maize year-to-year.
• Strict sowing window: Sep 10-15 (Uttara karti monsoon tail) — earlier sowing fails because monsoon stops before pod-fill; rainfed primarily with supplemental flood irrigation from streams; 90-day duration to mid-December.
• Seed rate 15-18 kg/acre (10-12 'pallu' x 1.5 kg) at Rs 150-160/kg = Rs 2,500-3,000; sown via tractor seed-drill at 13-inch row spacing; charges Rs 1,000/acre for sowing.
• Cost breakdown/acre: tillage Rs 10-15K, seed Rs 3K, sowing Rs 1K, fertilizer (DAP+urea+potash, 4 bags) Rs 5K, 6 pesticide sprays starting day 20 then every 10-15 days Rs 10K = Rs 35K input + harvesting Rs 6K (cutting Rs 3K + threshing Rs 2K + heaping Rs 1K) = ~Rs 40K total.
• Yield 10 q/acre this year well-grown; harvested as heaps in field for 1-week sun-cure then tractor-mounted thresher; rate currently Rs 10,000/q gives Rs 1 lakh gross, Rs 60K net; peak year (daughter's wedding 3 years ago) hit 12 q/acre x Rs 12,000/q across 20 acres = Rs 30 lakh which paid for half-kg gold and farm loans.