Agriculture in Porbandar 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 Porbandar itself. What actually trades in Porbandar's own mandis is listed below. Porbandar'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.
Mandi Prices in Porbandar
These are the crops actually trading in Porbandar's markets (Porbandar APMC), with the modal price per quintal reported on 1 June 2026:
| Commodity | Min | Max | Modal Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guar | ₹3,000 | ₹5,000 | ₹4,000 |
| Jowar(Sorghum) | ₹4,650 | ₹5,075 | ₹4,860 |
| Sesamum(Sesame,Gingelly,Til) | ₹8,950 | ₹10,700 | ₹9,825 |
| Corriander seed | ₹7,100 | ₹12,250 | ₹9,675 |
| Apple | ₹12,500 | ₹15,500 | ₹14,000 |
| Chikoos(Sapota) | ₹2,000 | ₹3,000 | ₹2,500 |
| Mango | ₹4,000 | ₹6,000 | ₹5,000 |
| Garlic | ₹12,000 | ₹17,000 | ₹14,500 |
| Coriander(Leaves) | ₹4,000 | ₹5,000 | ₹4,500 |
| Onion | ₹1,000 | ₹1,500 | ₹1,250 |
Source: Agmarknet daily arrivals for Porbandar, Gujarat, as of 1 June 2026.
What Porbandar Actually Grows: Official Crop Statistics
In 2024-25, Porbandar's largest crops by area were Groundnut, Gram (Chana), Wheat. Groundnut alone covered 75,695 ha (43% of the area under the crops listed below), with a yield of 1,894 kg/ha, 29% below the Gujarat average. The biggest shifts since 2019-20: Moong (Green Gram) area +219%, Gram (Chana) area +171%.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Production (tonnes) | Yield (kg/ha) | Gujarat avg yield | Area change since 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Groundnut | 75,695 | 1,43,397 | 1,894 | 2,657 | -9% |
| Gram (Chana) | 40,340 | 98,506 | 2,442 | 1,841 | +171% |
| Wheat | 27,956 | 88,608 | 3,169 | 3,017 | +22% |
| Moong (Green Gram) | 14,711 | 17,192 | 1,169 | 970 | +219% |
| Soybean | 6,960 | 10,524 | 1,512 | 1,523 | - |
| Cotton | 5,735 | 10,334 | 306 | 3,018 | -38% |
| Jowar (Sorghum) | 3,426 | 5,656 | 1,651 | 1,534 | -73% |
| Sesame (Til) | 1,770 | 1,515 | 856 | 826 | -62% |
| Bajra (Pearl Millet) | 368 | 1,060 | 2,882 | 2,531 | +53% |
| Urad (Black Gram) | 160 | 158 | 989 | 787 | +129% |
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 Porbandar
Porbandar receives about 833 mm of rain in an average year, 97% of it in June-September. The wettest month is July (300 mm). Days are hottest in April (average high 36°C) and nights coolest in January (average low 14°C).
- Rain typically first crosses 100 mm a month in June, the usual cue for kharif sowing here.
- 97% of the year's rain falls in June-September, so rabi and summer crops need assured irrigation.
| Month | Rain (mm) | Avg high | Avg low |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 1 | 29° | 14° |
| February | 0 | 31° | 16° |
| March | 1 | 34° | 20° |
| April | 2 | 36° | 23° |
| May | 3 | 36° | 26° |
| June | 130 | 33° | 27° |
| July | 300 | 30° | 26° |
| August | 245 | 29° | 25° |
| September | 131 | 30° | 25° |
| October | 11 | 33° | 23° |
| November | 8 | 32° | 20° |
| December | 1 | 30° | 16° |
Source: NASA POWER long-term monthly averages (satellite and model based, so they can understate rain on coasts and hills) for the centre of Porbandar district (21.603, 69.8538). These are normals, not a forecast for any one year; for this week see the farm weather forecast.
For Porbandar Farmers: Solar Pumps & Tractors
Districts Near Porbandar
Before you sell, compare mandis in neighbouring districts too (straight-line distance between district centres):
- Junagadh - 66 km
- Jamnagar - 86 km
- Devbhoomi Dwarka - 116 km
- Gir Somnath - 120 km
- Rajkot - 132 km
- Amreli - 146 km
Land records and Farmer ID in Gujarat
Government Schemes for Porbandar Farmers
Farmers in Porbandar 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 Porbandar's groundnut growers, the solar pump and drip subsidies are especially valuable. Apply at the Porbandar district agriculture office, a CSC, or online via the Subsidy Finder.