Buckwheat Farming in India- How to Grow, Top Varieties & Benefits

Table of Contents

• Buckwheat Farming in India – An Introduction
• Which are the Top Buckwheat Varieties in India?
• What is the Buckwheat Cultivation Process?

• • Soil & Climate
  • Land Preparation
  • Sowing & Planting
  • Irrigation & Fertilizer Management
  • Hilling
  • Pests and Disease Management
  • Harvesting & Threshing

• What are the Benefits of Buckwheat in India?

Buckwheat Farming in India – An Introduction

Buckwheat farming has become very popular in India due to rising demand and its nutritional value. It is an essential crop in the mountains, specifically in the Himalayan regions. The major buckwheat-producing states in India are Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Sikkim, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) has two major types: Common Buckwheat and Tartary Buckwheat. Among these two, the Tartary buckwheat cultivation is more common at higher altitudes. Buckwheat crops are cultivated primarily to produce grains for human consumption. It is also grown for livestock and poultry feed. Hulls of buckwheat are often used for stuffing pillows. It is rich in protein due to its high lysine content, which is usually deficient in cereal products. It is known to contain various anti-oxidative compounds such as vitamins B1, B2, and E.

Which are the Top Buckwheat Varieties in India?

• Local cultivars Mithey
• Tithey
• PRB-1
• VL-Ugal
• Sangla
• B-1 

What is the Buckwheat Cultivation Process?

Soil & climate, land preparation, sowing, planting, etc. are the major steps of buckwheat cultivation in India. Let’s understand each step in more detail.

Soil & Climate

Buckwheat can be grown in almost all types of soil due to its high tolerance level to soil acidity compared to any other grain crop. The ideal soil for buckwheat farming is sandy loam, loam, and silt loam. However, it does not grow well in saline and semi-arid regions. Buckwheat usually requires cool, moist conditions. The ideal temperature should be between 24° C and 26° C.

Land Preparation

Buckwheat in India can be grown even after one ploughing followed by two harrowing/tilling. It is a cover crop, so it doesn’t require any extensive land preparation and can grow even in poorly tilled soil.

Sowing & Planting

The best season for sowing Buckwheat varies by region. At lower altitudes, Buckwheat is usually sown in May to August, while at higher altitudes, April to May is the optimum sowing time of Buckwheat. Always choose high-quality and disease-free buckwheat seeds for sowing. The optimum seed rate of Buckwheat is about 35 to 40 kg/ha. It should be placed 3 to 5 cm deep in line and kept 30 to 45 cm row to row spacing and 10 to 15 cm from plant to plant spacing depending upon varieties.

Irrigation & Fertilizer Management

One to two irrigations are required for proper buckwheat growth in India. However, buckwheat can also be grown as a rainfed crop without irrigation. The application of Azophos seed treatment + mixed compost @ 5 t/ha and neem cake @ 0.5 t/ha is recommended to achieve a good buckwheat yield.

Hilling

Due to heavy branching capacity and weak stems, the buckwheat can be lodged easily. To avoid lodging, hilling at 30-35 DAS stage is required.

Pests and Disease Management

Harvesting & Threshing

Proper harvesting is essential to prevent buckwheat grain shattering. The best time to harvest buckwheat is when the leaves start turning from green to brown. Generally, late harvesting was observed at high altitudes, while early harvesting was done in mid- and low-altitude areas. Cut the seeds and thresh them when the rest of the seeds are fully matured. It gives an average yield of 12-14 q/ha.

What are the Benefits of Buckwheat in India?

Buckwheat is a neglected crop, but it has immense benefits for growers and consumers. Let’s have a look at some of the benefits of buckwheat below:

• It is a low-maintenance crop that requires basic climatic and environmental conditions.
• Buckwheat has a very short growing season and is well-suited to high hill rainfed ecosystems.
• It is rich in protein, lipids, minerals, and vitamins, especially P, E, and the B complex, as well as high rutin and fagopyrin content, which have various medicinal properties.
• It is also rich in fibers, which aids in better digestion and manage blood sugar.

Hence, buckwheat is a superfood for the farmers of India. It has significant potential for its benefits, and it should be considered an integral crop in agricultural production systems to maintain nutritional standards.