Agriculture in Panchmahal District: Gujarat Plains and Hills
Gujarat falls mainly in the Gujarat Plains and Hills agro-climatic zone (arid to semi-arid, 340-1793mm of rain a year across the zone), where groundnut, cotton and castor belt with major oilseed output is typical. Soils in this zone are mostly black, alluvial and sandy (saline coastal) soil. Crops commonly grown across the zone include Groundnut, Cotton, Wheat, Bajra (Pearl Millet), Castor, Cumin (Jeera), Tobacco.
These are zone-level facts (ICAR / Planning Commission agro-climatic classification), not a crop census of Panchmahal itself. Panchmahal's own month-by-month rainfall and temperatures are in the climate section.
Crop Calendar for the Gujarat Plains and Hills
| Crop | Season & Window | All-India rate (3 October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 🥜 Groundnut | Kharif (Sow: Jun-Jul, Harvest: Oct-Nov) | ₹6,913/qtl |
| 🪴 Cotton | Kharif (Sow: Apr-Jun, Pick: Oct-Jan) | ₹8,250/qtl |
| 🌾 Wheat | Rabi (Sow: Oct-Nov, Harvest: Mar-Apr) | ₹2,604/qtl |
| 🌾 Bajra (Pearl Millet) | Kharif (Sow: Jun-Jul, Harvest: Sep-Oct) | ₹2,300/qtl |
| 🌿 Castor | Kharif (Sow: Jul-Aug, Harvest: Jan-Feb) | ₹7,530/qtl |
| 🌿 Cumin (Jeera) | Rabi (Sow: Oct-Nov, Harvest: Feb-Mar) | ₹7,495/qtl |
| 🍂 Tobacco | Rabi (Sow: Sep-Oct, Transplant: Nov-Dec, Harvest: Feb-Apr) | ₹2,200/qtl |
Soil, Water & Irrigation
Drip and sprinkler subsidies (45-90%) and a solar pump cut water and power costs. Because soils vary field to field inside a zone, a free soil health card is the only reliable guide to what your own plot needs.
What Panchmahal Actually Grows: Official Crop Statistics
In 2024-25, Panchmahal's largest crops by area were Maize (Corn), Rice (Paddy), Wheat. Maize (Corn) alone covered 86,832 ha (45% of the area under the crops listed below), with a yield of 1,716 kg/ha, 8% below the Gujarat average. The biggest shifts since 2019-20: Gram (Chana) area +48%, Bajra (Pearl Millet) area +43%.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Production (tonnes) | Yield (kg/ha) | Gujarat avg yield | Area change since 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maize (Corn) | 86,832 | 1,49,021 | 1,716 | 1,858 | +5% |
| Rice (Paddy) | 52,240 | 98,107 | 1,878 | 2,410 | -11% |
| Wheat | 13,591 | 34,212 | 2,517 | 3,017 | -30% |
| Cotton | 11,329 | 41,607 | 624 | 3,018 | -3% |
| Arhar (Tur/Pigeon Pea) | 9,800 | 14,467 | 1,476 | 1,162 | -38% |
| Castor | 5,267 | 10,054 | 1,909 | 2,105 | +23% |
| Bajra (Pearl Millet) | 3,107 | 6,743 | 2,170 | 2,531 | +43% |
| Soybean | 2,830 | 4,310 | 1,523 | 1,523 | +33% |
| Gram (Chana) | 2,257 | 4,155 | 1,841 | 1,841 | +48% |
| Moong (Green Gram) | 1,533 | 1,835 | 1,197 | 970 | +89% |
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 Panchmahal
Panchmahal receives about 1003 mm of rain in an average year, 96% of it in June-September. The wettest month is July (338 mm). Days are hottest in May (average high 43°C) and nights coolest in January (average low 12°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 30°C, too warm for wheat to yield well; the cool season suits warm-tolerant pulses, oilseeds and vegetables better.
- 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 | 2 | 30° | 12° |
| February | 2 | 33° | 15° |
| March | 4 | 37° | 19° |
| April | 3 | 41° | 23° |
| May | 6 | 43° | 26° |
| June | 149 | 37° | 27° |
| July | 338 | 31° | 25° |
| August | 314 | 30° | 24° |
| September | 159 | 31° | 23° |
| October | 18 | 33° | 20° |
| November | 6 | 32° | 17° |
| December | 2 | 30° | 14° |
Source: NASA POWER long-term monthly averages (satellite and model based, so they can understate rain on coasts and hills) for the centre of Panchmahal district (22.6978, 73.5981). These are normals, not a forecast for any one year; for this week see the farm weather forecast.
For Panchmahal Farmers: Solar Pumps & Tractors
Districts Near Panchmahal
Before you sell, compare mandis in neighbouring districts too (straight-line distance between district centres):
- Vadodara - 52 km
- Mahisagar - 55 km
- Chhota Udaipur - 56 km
- Dahod - 60 km
- Kheda - 64 km
- Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh - 90 km
Land records and Farmer ID in Gujarat
Government Schemes for Panchmahal Farmers
Farmers in Panchmahal 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 Panchmahal's groundnut growers, the solar pump and drip subsidies are especially valuable. Apply at the Panchmahal district agriculture office, a CSC, or online via the Subsidy Finder.