Bhiwani Bajra Pearl Millet Ahirwal Heartland

Bhiwani district in south-central Haryana is the heartland of bajra pearl millet cultivation, where farmers grow HHB-67 and new dual-purpose varieties on sandy loam soils that retain little water, making bajra the primary kharif food crop in this low-rainfall zone. Bhiwani's bajra yield of 12 to 16 quintals per acre supports the traditional diet of bajra roti with desi ghee, kachri (wild cucumber) chutney, and lehsun (garlic) chutney that defines the Ahirwal food culture. The district's bajra straw is essential dry fodder for Murrah buffalo and Haryana cattle herds through the winter, linking bajra farming to the district's significant dairy sector.