Agriculture in Bhavnagar District: White onion and cotton of Saurashtra
Bhavnagar is one of Gujarat's notable agricultural districts, best known for white onion and cotton of Saurashtra. Its farmland is fed by Shetrunji and sits on predominantly black & coastal alluvial soil, a combination that favours cotton, groundnut, onion. Unlike a generic state average, Bhavnagar'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 Bhavnagar
The district's main crops are Cotton, Groundnut, Onion, Wheat. cotton leads the local economy, so Bhavnagar farmers should track the Cotton rate closely and plan sowing, inputs and storage around it. The black & coastal alluvial soil here holds moisture well and suits cotton, soybean, pulses and oilseeds.
Crop Calendar for Bhavnagar (Sowing & Harvest)
Based on Bhavnagar'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 (16 October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 🪴 Cotton | Kharif (Sow: Apr-Jun, Pick: Oct-Jan) | ₹8,300/qtl |
| 🥜 Groundnut | Kharif (Sow: Jun-Jul, Harvest: Oct-Nov) | ₹7,300/qtl |
| 🧅 Onion | Kharif (Jun-Jul sow) & Rabi (Oct-Nov sow) | ₹4,250/qtl |
| 🌾 Wheat | Rabi (Sow: Oct-Nov, Harvest: Mar-Apr) | ₹2,642/qtl |
Soil, Water & Irrigation in Bhavnagar
With black & coastal alluvial soil and water from the Shetrunji, the priority for Bhavnagar 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 cotton from Bhavnagar
Since cotton is central to Bhavnagar, time your sale using the live cotton rate. Compare rates at the nearest APMC mandi with the Gujarat price page. Grade and clean produce for a 15-20% premium, and list on eNAM to reach buyers beyond Bhavnagar.
Mandi Prices in Bhavnagar
These are the crops actually trading in Bhavnagar's markets (Taleja APMC, Mahuva(Station Road) APMC), with the modal price per quintal reported on 1 June 2026:
| Commodity | Min | Max | Modal Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Groundnut | ₹4,500 | ₹8,555 | ₹7,112 |
| Sesamum(Sesame,Gingelly,Til) | ₹7,500 | ₹17,320 | ₹11,169 |
| Onion | ₹265 | ₹2,500 | ₹1,269 |
| Castor Seed | ₹5,050 | ₹6,475 | ₹5,765 |
| Black Gram(Urd Beans)(Whole) | ₹6,000 | ₹7,870 | ₹6,935 |
| Wheat | ₹1,300 | ₹2,525 | ₹1,915 |
| Bajra(Pearl Millet/Cumbu) | ₹1,325 | ₹2,515 | ₹1,920 |
| Green Gram(Moong)(Whole) | ₹4,950 | ₹8,155 | ₹6,555 |
Source: Agmarknet daily arrivals for Bhavnagar, Gujarat, as of 1 June 2026.
What Bhavnagar Actually Grows: Official Crop Statistics
In 2024-25, Bhavnagar's largest crops by area were Cotton, Groundnut, Wheat. Cotton alone covered 2,29,527 ha (53% of the area under the crops listed below), with a yield of 429 kg/ha, 86% below the Gujarat average. The biggest shifts since 2019-20: Wheat area +61%, Moong (Green Gram) area -58%.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Production (tonnes) | Yield (kg/ha) | Gujarat avg yield | Area change since 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton | 2,29,527 | 5,78,640 | 429 | 3,018 | -3% |
| Groundnut | 1,20,948 | 2,89,313 | 2,392 | 2,657 | +20% |
| Wheat | 32,077 | 1,09,458 | 3,412 | 3,017 | +61% |
| Gram (Chana) | 21,721 | 50,175 | 2,310 | 1,841 | +357% |
| Bajra (Pearl Millet) | 17,251 | 50,381 | 2,921 | 2,531 | -37% |
| Sesame (Til) | 6,649 | 7,241 | 1,089 | 826 | -3% |
| Moong (Green Gram) | 1,742 | 1,737 | 997 | 970 | -58% |
| Maize (Corn) | 1,008 | 2,551 | 2,530 | 1,858 | -38% |
| Soybean | 575 | 876 | 1,523 | 1,523 | - |
| Urad (Black Gram) | 556 | 413 | 743 | 787 | -58% |
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. Gujarat average = sum of the state's district estimates.
Climate & Sowing Windows in Bhavnagar
Bhavnagar receives about 865 mm of rain in an average year, 96% of it in June-September. The wettest month is July (281 mm). Days are hottest in May (average high 41°C) and nights coolest in January (average low 13°C).
- Rain typically first crosses 100 mm a month in June, the usual cue for kharif sowing here.
- 96% of the year's rain falls in June-September, so rabi and summer crops need assured irrigation.
- January days still average 29°C, too warm for wheat to yield well; the cool season suits warm-tolerant pulses, oilseeds and vegetables better.
- May days average 41°C, so summer (zaid) crops and young orchards need frequent irrigation and mulching.
| Month | Rain (mm) | Avg high | Avg low |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 1 | 29° | 13° |
| February | 1 | 33° | 16° |
| March | 1 | 37° | 20° |
| April | 2 | 40° | 24° |
| May | 3 | 41° | 26° |
| June | 162 | 36° | 27° |
| July | 281 | 32° | 25° |
| August | 229 | 31° | 24° |
| September | 158 | 31° | 24° |
| October | 19 | 33° | 22° |
| November | 6 | 32° | 19° |
| December | 2 | 30° | 15° |
Source: NASA POWER long-term monthly averages (satellite and model based, so they can understate rain on coasts and hills) for the centre of Bhavnagar district (21.5657, 71.9078). These are normals, not a forecast for any one year; for this week see the farm weather forecast.
For Bhavnagar Farmers: Solar Pumps & Tractors
Districts Near Bhavnagar
Before you sell, compare mandis in neighbouring districts too (straight-line distance between district centres):
Land records and Farmer ID in Gujarat
Government Schemes for Bhavnagar Farmers
Farmers in Bhavnagar 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 Bhavnagar's cotton growers, crop insurance and the soil health card matter most for the black-soil crops here. Apply at the Bhavnagar district agriculture office, a CSC, or online via the Subsidy Finder.