This comprises southern part of Malwa plateau and Deccan plateau (Maharashtra). This is a region of the regard soil with July temperature between 24°C-41 °C, January temperature between 6°C- 23°C and average annual rainfall of 25 cm-75 cm. Net sown areas is 65 per cent and forests occupy only 11 per cent. Only 12.4 per cent area is irrigated. Jowar, cotton, sugarcane, rice, bajra, wheat, gram, pulses, potato, groundnut and oilseeds are the principal crops. The area is known for its oranges, grapes and bananas.
Since the region is deficient in water resources attention be paid to increasing water efficiency by popularizing water saving devices like sprinklers and drip system.
The lower value crops of jowar, bajra and rainfed wheat should give way to high value oilseeds like sunflower, safflower and mustard. Five per cent area under rainfed cotton and jowar could be substituted with fruits like ber, pomegranate, mango and guava, appropriate marketing, storage and processing infrastructure to handle added fruit production should be developed. Improvement of milk production of cattle and buffalo through cross-breeding along with poultry development should be taken care of.