Agriculture in Surat 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 Surat itself. What actually trades in Surat's own mandis is listed below. Surat'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 Surat
These are the crops actually trading in Surat's markets (Vyra APMC, Bardoli(Kadod) APMC, Surat APMC, KUKARMUNDA APMC and 2 more), with the modal price per quintal reported on 1 June 2026:
| Commodity | Min | Max | Modal Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheat | ₹2,000 | ₹2,475 | ₹2,313 |
| Groundnut | ₹6,926 | ₹8,400 | ₹7,501 |
| Bengal Gram(Gram)(Whole) | ₹5,400 | ₹5,750 | ₹5,513 |
| Green Chilli | ₹2,100 | ₹4,600 | ₹3,200 |
| Groundnut pods(raw) | ₹3,500 | ₹4,800 | ₹4,150 |
| Pointed gourd(Parval) | ₹2,000 | ₹4,000 | ₹3,000 |
| Pumpkin | ₹800 | ₹1,800 | ₹1,300 |
| Ridgeguard(Tori) | ₹2,000 | ₹5,300 | ₹3,650 |
| Sweet Potato | ₹1,500 | ₹2,400 | ₹1,950 |
| Brinjal | ₹1,600 | ₹3,800 | ₹2,500 |
Source: Agmarknet daily arrivals for Surat, Gujarat, as of 1 June 2026.
What Surat Actually Grows: Official Crop Statistics
In 2024-25, Surat's largest crops by area were Sugarcane, Rice (Paddy), Maize (Corn). Sugarcane alone covered 83,900 ha (44% of the area under the crops listed below), with a yield of 72,486 kg/ha, 0% above the Gujarat average. The biggest shifts since 2019-20: Moong (Green Gram) area +150%, Arhar (Tur/Pigeon Pea) area -56%.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Production (tonnes) | Yield (kg/ha) | Gujarat avg yield | Area change since 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sugarcane | 83,900 | 60,81,574 | 72,486 | 72,651 | +23% |
| Rice (Paddy) | 65,061 | 1,39,147 | 2,139 | 2,410 | +44% |
| Maize (Corn) | 9,159 | 14,174 | 1,548 | 1,858 | +486% |
| Soybean | 7,997 | 10,312 | 1,289 | 1,523 | +13% |
| Jowar (Sorghum) | 7,359 | 8,963 | 1,218 | 1,534 | -11% |
| Arhar (Tur/Pigeon Pea) | 3,483 | 3,074 | 883 | 1,162 | -56% |
| Wheat | 3,251 | 8,030 | 2,470 | 3,017 | -11% |
| Sesame (Til) | 3,218 | 2,288 | 711 | 826 | +640% |
| Cotton | 3,130 | 11,993 | 651 | 3,018 | -28% |
| Moong (Green Gram) | 2,618 | 2,087 | 797 | 970 | +150% |
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 Surat
Surat receives about 1695 mm of rain in an average year, 96% of it in June-September. The wettest month is July (572 mm). Days are hottest in April (average high 40°C) and nights coolest in January (average low 15°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.
- At about 1695 mm a year, water is plentiful in season; field drainage matters as much as irrigation, and paddy and plantation crops suit the climate.
- January days still average 31°C, too warm for wheat to yield well; the cool season suits warm-tolerant pulses, oilseeds and vegetables better.
| Month | Rain (mm) | Avg high | Avg low |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 1 | 31° | 15° |
| February | 3 | 34° | 17° |
| March | 2 | 37° | 20° |
| April | 2 | 40° | 23° |
| May | 6 | 39° | 26° |
| June | 347 | 34° | 26° |
| July | 572 | 30° | 25° |
| August | 437 | 29° | 24° |
| September | 270 | 30° | 24° |
| October | 43 | 32° | 21° |
| November | 9 | 33° | 18° |
| December | 3 | 32° | 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 Surat district (21.1924, 72.9551). These are normals, not a forecast for any one year; for this week see the farm weather forecast.
For Surat Farmers: Solar Pumps & Tractors
Districts Near Surat
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 Surat Farmers
Farmers in Surat 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 Surat's groundnut growers, the solar pump and drip subsidies are especially valuable. Apply at the Surat district agriculture office, a CSC, or online via the Subsidy Finder.