Agriculture in Mehsana District: Dairy (Dudhsagar) and oilseed district
Mehsana is one of Gujarat's notable agricultural districts, best known for dairy (Dudhsagar) and oilseed district. Its farmland is fed by canal & wells and sits on predominantly sandy loam soil, a combination that favours mustard, bajra, wheat. Unlike a generic state average, Mehsana'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 Mehsana
The district's main crops are Mustard (Rapeseed), Bajra (Pearl Millet), Wheat, Fennel (Saunf). mustard leads the local economy, so Mehsana farmers should track the Mustard (Rapeseed) rate closely and plan sowing, inputs and storage around it. The sandy loam soil here drains fast and suits bajra, pulses, cumin and guar with careful water use.
Crop Calendar for Mehsana (Sowing & Harvest)
Based on Mehsana'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) |
|---|---|---|
| 🌿 Mustard (Rapeseed) | Rabi (Sow: Oct-Nov, Harvest: Feb-Mar) | ₹7,540/qtl |
| 🌾 Bajra (Pearl Millet) | Kharif (Sow: Jun-Jul, Harvest: Sep-Oct) | ₹2,300/qtl |
| 🌾 Wheat | Rabi (Sow: Oct-Nov, Harvest: Mar-Apr) | ₹2,604/qtl |
| 🌿 Fennel (Saunf) | Rabi (Sow: Oct-Nov, Harvest: Feb-Mar) | ₹12,000/qtl |
Soil, Water & Irrigation in Mehsana
With sandy loam soil and water from the canal & wells, the priority for Mehsana farmers is matching irrigation to the crop. Because the soil drains quickly, a drip system (45-90% subsidy) pays back fast here and a solar pump cuts the high cost of pumping groundwater. A free soil health card tells you exactly which nutrients your plot needs.
Best Way to Sell mustard from Mehsana
Since mustard is central to Mehsana, time your sale using the live mustard rate. Sell at Mehsana Mandi and compare with neighbouring mandis. Grade and clean produce for a 15-20% premium, and list on eNAM to reach buyers beyond Mehsana.
Mandi Prices in Mehsana
These are the crops actually trading in Mehsana's markets (Vijapur(Kukarvada) APMC, Mehsana(Mehsana Veg) APMC, Mehsana APMC, Unjha APMC and 4 more), with the modal price per quintal reported on 1 June 2026:
| Commodity | Min | Max | Modal Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Castor Seed | ₹5,950 | ₹6,595 | ₹6,477 |
| Bajra(Pearl Millet/Cumbu) | ₹1,360 | ₹2,495 | ₹2,150 |
| Mango | ₹750 | ₹5,000 | ₹2,825 |
| Mustard | ₹6,700 | ₹7,100 | ₹6,913 |
| Sesamum(Sesame,Gingelly,Til) | ₹9,000 | ₹11,750 | ₹10,350 |
| Green Chilli | ₹1,800 | ₹5,000 | ₹2,750 |
| Cauliflower | ₹1,000 | ₹3,000 | ₹2,000 |
| Wheat | ₹2,190 | ₹2,500 | ₹2,375 |
| Ajwan | ₹5,000 | ₹18,300 | ₹11,750 |
| Methi Seeds | ₹5,700 | ₹6,200 | ₹5,950 |
Source: Agmarknet daily arrivals for Mehsana, Gujarat, as of 1 June 2026.
What Mehsana Actually Grows: Official Crop Statistics
In 2024-25, Mehsana's largest crops by area were Castor, Wheat, Cotton. Castor alone covered 92,387 ha (30% of the area under the crops listed below), with a yield of 2,448 kg/ha, 16% above the Gujarat average. The biggest shifts since 2019-20: Rice (Paddy) area +99%, Mustard (Rapeseed) area +69%.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Production (tonnes) | Yield (kg/ha) | Gujarat avg yield | Area change since 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Castor | 92,387 | 2,26,152 | 2,448 | 2,105 | -6% |
| Wheat | 63,257 | 1,95,471 | 3,090 | 3,017 | -8% |
| Cotton | 33,042 | 1,32,086 | 680 | 3,018 | -14% |
| Groundnut | 24,172 | 58,121 | 2,404 | 2,657 | +51% |
| Mustard (Rapeseed) | 21,368 | 38,372 | 1,796 | 1,871 | +69% |
| Tobacco | 20,268 | 58,768 | 2,900 | 2,290 | +25% |
| Bajra (Pearl Millet) | 15,402 | 41,316 | 2,683 | 2,531 | +15% |
| Guar Seed (Cluster Bean Seed) | 12,020 | 12,467 | 1,037 | 732 | -13% |
| Urad (Black Gram) | 9,544 | 5,643 | 591 | 787 | +33% |
| Rice (Paddy) | 8,337 | 18,954 | 2,273 | 2,410 | +99% |
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 Mehsana
Mehsana receives about 718 mm of rain in an average year, 96% of it in June-September. The wettest month is July (252 mm). Days are hottest in May (average high 43°C) and nights coolest in January (average low 11°C).
- Rain typically first crosses 100 mm a month in July, 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.
- May days average 43°C, so summer (zaid) crops and young orchards need frequent irrigation and mulching.
| Month | Rain (mm) | Avg high | Avg low |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 1 | 28° | 11° |
| February | 1 | 32° | 14° |
| March | 5 | 37° | 19° |
| April | 3 | 41° | 23° |
| May | 5 | 43° | 27° |
| June | 81 | 39° | 28° |
| July | 252 | 34° | 26° |
| August | 247 | 32° | 24° |
| September | 110 | 32° | 24° |
| October | 8 | 34° | 20° |
| November | 4 | 32° | 16° |
| December | 1 | 29° | 13° |
Source: NASA POWER long-term monthly averages (satellite and model based, so they can understate rain on coasts and hills) for the centre of Mehsana district (23.6013, 72.39). These are normals, not a forecast for any one year; for this week see the farm weather forecast.
For Mehsana Farmers: Solar Pumps & Tractors
Districts Near Mehsana
Before you sell, compare mandis in neighbouring districts too (straight-line distance between district centres):
- Gandhinagar - 45 km
- Sabarkantha - 70 km
- Patan - 75 km
- Banaskantha - 76 km
- Ahmedabad - 96 km
- Aravalli - 104 km
Land records and Farmer ID in Gujarat
Government Schemes for Mehsana Farmers
Farmers in Mehsana 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 Mehsana's mustard growers, the solar pump and drip subsidies are especially valuable. Apply at the Mehsana district agriculture office, a CSC, or online via the Subsidy Finder.