Agriculture in Rajkot District: Saurashtra groundnut & oilseed centre
Rajkot is one of Gujarat's notable agricultural districts, best known for Saurashtra groundnut & oilseed centre. Its farmland is fed by Aji, Bhadar and sits on predominantly black to sandy soil, a combination that favours groundnut, cotton, wheat. Unlike a generic state average, Rajkot'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 Rajkot
The district's main crops are Groundnut, Cotton, Wheat. groundnut leads the local economy, so Rajkot farmers should track the Groundnut rate closely and plan sowing, inputs and storage around it. The black to sandy soil here holds moisture well and suits cotton, soybean, pulses and oilseeds.
Crop Calendar for Rajkot (Sowing & Harvest)
Based on Rajkot'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) |
|---|---|---|
| 🥜 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 |
Soil, Water & Irrigation in Rajkot
With black to sandy soil and water from the Aji, Bhadar, the priority for Rajkot 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 groundnut from Rajkot
Since groundnut is central to Rajkot, time your sale using the live groundnut rate. Sell at Rajkot APMC and compare with neighbouring mandis. Grade and clean produce for a 15-20% premium, and list on eNAM to reach buyers beyond Rajkot.
Mandi Prices in Rajkot
These are the crops actually trading in Rajkot's markets (Jasdan APMC, Rajkot APMC, Dhoraji APMC, Gondal(Veg.market Gondal) APMC and 2 more), with the modal price per quintal reported on 1 June 2026:
| Commodity | Min | Max | Modal Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sesamum(Sesame,Gingelly,Til) | ₹5,105 | ₹18,125 | ₹11,478 |
| Wheat | ₹2,175 | ₹2,605 | ₹2,299 |
| Cotton | ₹5,390 | ₹9,280 | ₹8,933 |
| Black Gram(Urd Beans)(Whole) | ₹6,000 | ₹8,200 | ₹7,243 |
| Soyabean | ₹5,000 | ₹8,350 | ₹7,115 |
| Bajra(Pearl Millet/Cumbu) | ₹1,250 | ₹2,500 | ₹1,983 |
| Groundnut | ₹4,005 | ₹8,145 | ₹7,118 |
| Methi Seeds | ₹3,750 | ₹9,500 | ₹6,450 |
| Cummin Seed(Jeera) | ₹14,000 | ₹19,350 | ₹17,438 |
| Corriander seed | ₹9,000 | ₹12,505 | ₹12,050 |
Source: Agmarknet daily arrivals for Rajkot, Gujarat, as of 1 June 2026.
What Rajkot Actually Grows: Official Crop Statistics
In 2024-25, Rajkot's largest crops by area were Groundnut, Cotton, Gram (Chana). Groundnut alone covered 2,70,249 ha (38% of the area under the crops listed below), with a yield of 2,833 kg/ha, 7% above the Gujarat average. The biggest shifts since 2019-20: Gram (Chana) area +201%, Arhar (Tur/Pigeon Pea) area +79%.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Production (tonnes) | Yield (kg/ha) | Gujarat avg yield | Area change since 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Groundnut | 2,70,249 | 7,65,740 | 2,833 | 2,657 | +14% |
| Cotton | 1,83,993 | 6,80,022 | 628 | 3,018 | -30% |
| Gram (Chana) | 1,10,202 | 2,57,259 | 2,334 | 1,841 | +201% |
| Wheat | 1,02,503 | 3,95,417 | 3,858 | 3,017 | -26% |
| Soybean | 26,891 | 47,669 | 1,773 | 1,523 | +4711% |
| Sesame (Til) | 7,254 | 6,665 | 919 | 826 | -15% |
| Castor | 5,070 | 14,187 | 2,798 | 2,105 | -5% |
| Arhar (Tur/Pigeon Pea) | 3,123 | 6,264 | 2,006 | 1,162 | +79% |
| Moong (Green Gram) | 2,994 | 2,984 | 997 | 970 | +10% |
| Urad (Black Gram) | 1,502 | 1,257 | 837 | 787 | -6% |
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 Rajkot
Rajkot receives about 786 mm of rain in an average year, 96% of it in June-September. The wettest month is July (255 mm). Days are hottest in May (average high 42°C) and nights coolest in January (average low 11°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 42°C, so summer (zaid) crops and young orchards need frequent irrigation and mulching.
| Month | Rain (mm) | Avg high | Avg low |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 1 | 29° | 11° |
| February | 1 | 33° | 14° |
| March | 2 | 37° | 19° |
| April | 2 | 41° | 22° |
| May | 4 | 42° | 25° |
| June | 129 | 37° | 26° |
| July | 255 | 32° | 25° |
| August | 224 | 31° | 23° |
| September | 144 | 32° | 23° |
| October | 16 | 34° | 20° |
| November | 7 | 32° | 17° |
| December | 1 | 30° | 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 Rajkot district (22.0693, 71.0289). These are normals, not a forecast for any one year; for this week see the farm weather forecast.
For Rajkot Farmers: Solar Pumps & Tractors
Districts Near Rajkot
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 Rajkot Farmers
Farmers in Rajkot 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 Rajkot's groundnut growers, the solar pump and drip subsidies are especially valuable. Apply at the Rajkot district agriculture office, a CSC, or online via the Subsidy Finder.