Gangavathi Paddy Basin and Rice Economy of Koppal

Gangavathi in Koppal district is Karnataka's paddy heartland in the Tungabhadra command area, producing the BPT 5204 (Sona Masuri) variety that is Karnataka's most popular table rice. The Tungabhadra Right Bank Canal irrigates vast paddy fields across Koppal, Bellary, and Raichur, creating a rice surplus economy in otherwise drought-prone country. The Gangavathi rice market is one of Karnataka's largest paddy procurement centres for the Food Corporation of India and Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies Corporation. Traditional paddy transplanting in Gangavathi involves large female work groups who transplant saplings in flooded fields knee-deep in water, singing traditional work songs to maintain rhythm and pace across the long planting rows.