Agriculture in Guntur District: World's largest chilli market
Guntur is one of Andhra Pradesh's notable agricultural districts, best known for world's largest chilli market. Its farmland is fed by Krishna and sits on predominantly black & alluvial soil, a combination that favours chilli, cotton, tobacco. Unlike a generic state average, Guntur's cropping is shaped by this specific soil-and-water mix, which is why the crops and schemes below are weighted to what actually grows and sells here.
What Grows Best in Guntur
The district's main crops are chilli, Cotton, Tobacco, Rice (Paddy). chilli leads the local economy, so Guntur farmers should track the chilli rate closely and plan sowing, inputs and storage around it. The black & alluvial soil here holds moisture well and suits cotton, soybean, pulses and oilseeds.
Crop Calendar for Guntur (Sowing & Harvest)
Based on Guntur's main crops, here is when to sow and harvest locally. Plan inputs, labour and credit around these windows:
| Crop | Season & Window | All-India rate (3 October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| chilli | Local seasonal crop | - |
| 🪴 Cotton | Kharif (Sow: Apr-Jun, Pick: Oct-Jan) | ₹8,250/qtl |
| 🍂 Tobacco | Rabi (Sow: Sep-Oct, Transplant: Nov-Dec, Harvest: Feb-Apr) | ₹2,200/qtl |
| 🍚 Rice (Paddy) | Kharif (Sow: Jun-Jul, Harvest: Oct-Nov) | ₹3,680/qtl |
Soil, Water & Irrigation in Guntur
With black & alluvial soil and water from the Krishna, the priority for Guntur farmers is matching irrigation to the crop. Drip and sprinkler subsidies and a solar pump can cut water and power costs significantly. A free soil health card tells you exactly which nutrients your plot needs.
Best Way to Sell chilli from Guntur
Since chilli is central to Guntur, time your sale using the live chilli rate. Sell at Guntur Regulated Market and compare with neighbouring mandis. Grade and clean produce for a 15-20% premium, and list on eNAM to reach buyers beyond Guntur.
Mandi Prices in Guntur
These are the crops actually trading in Guntur's markets (Duggirala APMC), with the modal price per quintal reported on 1 June 2026:
| Commodity | Min | Max | Modal Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turmeric | ₹10,300 | ₹10,900 | ₹10,500 |
Source: Agmarknet daily arrivals for Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, as of 1 June 2026.
What Guntur Actually Grows: Official Crop Statistics
In 2024-25, Guntur's largest crops by area were Rice (Paddy), Cotton, Maize (Corn). Rice (Paddy) alone covered 58,038 ha (39% of the area under the crops listed below), with a yield of 3,673 kg/ha, 6% below the Andhra Pradesh average. The biggest shifts since 2019-20: Cotton area -88%, Rice (Paddy) area -76%.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Production (tonnes) | Yield (kg/ha) | Andhra Pradesh avg yield | Area change since 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rice (Paddy) | 58,038 | 2,13,164 | 3,673 | 3,928 | -76% |
| Cotton | 21,871 | 1,03,300 | 803 | 2,800 | -88% |
| Maize (Corn) | 19,965 | 2,09,430 | 10,490 | 6,510 | -58% |
| Jowar (Sorghum) | 13,022 | 1,04,893 | 8,055 | 3,459 | -68% |
| Urad (Black Gram) | 11,613 | 16,029 | 1,380 | 1,225 | -65% |
| Moong (Green Gram) | 9,981 | 13,127 | 1,315 | 907 | -55% |
| Gram (Chana) | 7,308 | 16,237 | 2,222 | 1,063 | -56% |
| Tobacco | 4,325 | 12,453 | 2,879 | 2,254 | -13% |
| Arhar (Tur/Pigeon Pea) | 461 | 339 | 735 | 475 | -98% |
| Soybean | 259 | 271 | 1,046 | 1,321 | - |
Source: Directorate of Economics & Statistics, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Govt of India (final estimates), via UPAg. Field crops only - vegetables, fruit and spices are counted separately. Andhra Pradesh average = sum of the state's district estimates.
Climate & Sowing Windows in Guntur
Guntur receives about 1026 mm of rain in an average year, 64% of it in June-September. The wettest month is October (186 mm). Days are hottest in May (average high 40°C) and nights coolest in December (average low 17°C).
- Rain typically first crosses 100 mm a month in June, the usual cue for kharif sowing here.
- January days still average 31°C, too warm for wheat to yield well; the cool season suits warm-tolerant pulses, oilseeds and vegetables better.
| Month | Rain (mm) | Avg high | Avg low |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7 | 31° | 17° |
| February | 10 | 34° | 19° |
| March | 9 | 38° | 22° |
| April | 20 | 40° | 25° |
| May | 48 | 40° | 28° |
| June | 124 | 35° | 27° |
| July | 181 | 33° | 25° |
| August | 181 | 31° | 24° |
| September | 169 | 31° | 24° |
| October | 186 | 30° | 23° |
| November | 70 | 29° | 20° |
| December | 21 | 29° | 17° |
Source: NASA POWER long-term monthly averages (satellite and model based, so they can understate rain on coasts and hills) for the centre of Guntur district (16.2854, 80.5686). These are normals, not a forecast for any one year; for this week see the farm weather forecast.
For Guntur Farmers: Solar Pumps & Tractors
Districts Near Guntur
Before you sell, compare mandis in neighbouring districts too (straight-line distance between district centres):
Land records and Farmer ID in Andhra Pradesh
Government Schemes for Guntur Farmers
Farmers in Guntur are eligible for PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Kisan Credit Card, Soil Health Card Scheme, PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, eNAM - National Agriculture Market and more. For Guntur's chilli growers, crop insurance and the soil health card matter most for the black-soil crops here. Apply at the Guntur district agriculture office, a CSC, or online via the Subsidy Finder.