M 35-1 (Maldandi)
The traditional post-rainy (rabi) jowar of the Deccan — grown on stored soil moisture with no irrigation, prized for grain and fodder quality both.
Quick facts
- Crop
- Jowar (Sorghum)
- Type
- Open-pollinated
- Season
- Rabi
- Maturity period
- 120–130 days
- Expected yield
- 12–16 q/ha
- Suitable soil
- Clay / black soil
- Release
- Selected 1930 at Agricultural Research Station, Mohol (Solapur, Maharashtra); now maintained by Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth (MPKV), Rahuri, whose Mohol station is the lead rabi-jowar breeding centre; GI-tagged as "Mangalwedha Jowar" in March 2016
About this variety
M 35-1, popularly called Maldandi, is a traditional post-rainy (rabi) sorghum selected in 1930 at the Agricultural Research Station, Mohol, in Solapur district, Maharashtra — decades before Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth (MPKV, established 1969) took over as its custodian institute; MPKV’s Mohol station remains the lead centre for rabi jowar breeding today. Grown on residual soil moisture after the monsoon with no irrigation, it has been cultivated for grain and fodder in the Mangalwedha–Solapur belt for generations. Its bold, pearly-white, lustrous grain makes roti valued for taste and softness, and it carries inherent tolerance to common insects and diseases that lets many farmers grow it without pesticides or fungicides. ICRISAT and other breeding programmes have since drawn on the M 35-1/Maldandi germplasm as a source line for newer rabi sorghum varieties, including PKV Kranti. In March 2016 "Mangalwedha Jowar" (the Maldandi M-35-1 strain) received a Geographical Indication tag — Maharashtra’s first for a jowar variety.
Key characteristics
Yield & maturity
Maturity period
120–130 days
Expected yield
12–16 q/ha
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
Pest & disease considerations
Major diseases
- Carries inherent tolerance to common insects and diseases of the post-rainy tract, well-known enough that many growers report skipping pesticide and fungicide sprays altogether
Advantages & considerations
Why farmers may choose it
- Grows entirely on residual soil moisture after the monsoon — no irrigation needed, which is what makes it viable across the drought-prone post-rainy Deccan
- Bold, pearly-white grain valued for roti taste and softness; fodder also fetches a premium as it is reported to raise milk fat content in cattle and buffalo
- Geographical Indication tag (March 2016) formally recognises its Solapur-belt provenance and protects the "Mangalwedha Jowar" name
Suitable regions
States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.
- Maharashtra
- Karnataka
Frequently asked questions
Is M 35-1 the same as Maldandi jowar?
Yes — M 35-1 is the breeding-line name of the traditional Maldandi strain selected in 1930 at Mohol, Solapur. It is also marketed as "Mangalwedha Jowar," which received a Geographical Indication tag in 2016.
Sourced from: Mangalwedha jowar — Wikipedia. editorial policy.