Mangalwedha jowar

Mangalwedha jowar, also known as Maldandi jowar, is a traditional variety of sorghum cultivated in the Mangalwedha taluka of Solapur district, Maharashtra, India. It has been grown for centuries and is prized for its sweet taste, high nutritional value, and bold, lustrous grains with thin pericarp. The variety offers excellent grain and fodder yield and is resistant to insects and diseases without requiring pesticides or fungicides.

Mangalwedha jowar was selected at the Mohol Research Centre in 1930 for hybrid variety development, and ICRISAT later incorporated its genes into new sorghum varieties. It dominates post-monsoon sorghum cultivation in India due to its ability to thrive under receding soil moisture and low temperature tolerance.

The jowar is notable for its high glucose content, which makes rotis prepared from it soft and tasty. Farmers report that cows and buffaloes fed on Maldandi fodder produce milk with higher fat content, leading to better market prices.

Mangalwedha jowar received Geographical Indication (GI) status from the Government of India in 2016, making it exclusive to the region and granting it legal protection. The GI tag ensures its unique identity and prevents illegal trade. Proposed by Maldandi Jowar Vikas Sangh, it became the first jowar variety from Maharashtra to earn this recognition and the 12th type of product from the state with GI status.