Mysuru district experienced a notable 23.3% increase in foodgrain cultivation area from 2018-19 to 2022-23, while neighboring Kodagu saw a 27.4% decrease. Chikkamagaluru, Shivamogga, and Chamarajanagar also recorded declines, whereas Hassan and Mandya witnessed increases.
Agriculture Minister N Cheluvarayaswamy explained that farmers are shifting to more profitable commercial crops and adapting to changing weather conditions. In Mysuru, the area for foodgrain cultivation rose from 2,78,061 hectares in 2018-19 to 3,42,725 hectares by 2022-23. Mandya and Hassan saw increases of 8.2% and 19.06%, respectively, while Kodagu (-27.43%), Chikkamagaluru (-16.32%), Shivamogga (-15.18%), and Chamarajanagar (-5.17%) experienced declines.
Col CP Muthanna (Retd), founder of the Environment and Health Foundation (India), attributed Kodagu’s decline to unregulated land conversion. He cited RTI data showing 3,000 acres of agricultural land in Kodagu were converted between 2005 and 2015, a trend that persists. Muthanna stressed the importance of halting land conversions to preserve the traditions and lifestyles of indigenous communities like the Kodavas and called for a national policy to protect river catchment areas.