Cotton and Dryland Farming on Black Soil of Koppal

Koppal district's black cotton soil (regur) belt along the Tungabhadra supports cotton as the dominant kharif crop, alongside sunflower and jowar. The short-staple Desi cotton varieties traditionally grown in Koppal are adapted to the soil's high moisture retention and low drainage — tolerating the waterlogging that would damage other crops. Cotton picking is done entirely by hand over multiple rounds as the bolls open progressively, with migrant labour coming from across north Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh for the harvest season. Koppal's cotton is sold at APMC markets in Gangavathi and Koppal town. The Tungabhadra's irrigation canal network covers significant areas of Koppal, enabling paddy cultivation in the riverside zones.