Agriculture in Sirsa District: Cotton and kinnow belt of Haryana
Sirsa is one of Haryana's notable agricultural districts, best known for cotton and kinnow belt of Haryana. Its farmland is fed by Ghaggar, canal and sits on predominantly sandy loam soil, a combination that favours cotton, wheat, kinnow. Unlike a generic state average, Sirsa'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 Sirsa
The district's main crops are Cotton, Wheat, kinnow, Guar Seed (Cluster Bean Seed). cotton leads the local economy, so Sirsa farmers should track the Cotton 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 Sirsa (Sowing & Harvest)
Based on Sirsa'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) |
|---|---|---|
| 🪴 Cotton | Kharif (Sow: Apr-Jun, Pick: Oct-Jan) | ₹8,250/qtl |
| 🌾 Wheat | Rabi (Sow: Oct-Nov, Harvest: Mar-Apr) | ₹2,604/qtl |
| kinnow | Local seasonal crop | - |
| 🌿 Guar Seed (Cluster Bean Seed) | Kharif (Sow: Jun-Jul, Harvest: Sep-Oct) | ₹4,500/qtl |
Soil, Water & Irrigation in Sirsa
With sandy loam soil and water from the Ghaggar, canal, the priority for Sirsa 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 cotton from Sirsa
Since cotton is central to Sirsa, time your sale using the live cotton rate. Sell at Sirsa Anaj Mandi and compare with neighbouring mandis. Grade and clean produce for a 15-20% premium, and list on eNAM to reach buyers beyond Sirsa.
Mandi Prices in Sirsa
These are the crops actually trading in Sirsa's markets (Rania APMC, Rania(Jiwan nagar) APMC, Ellanabad APMC), with the modal price per quintal reported on 1 June 2026:
| Commodity | Min | Max | Modal Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | ₹35 | ₹250 | ₹110 |
| Bitter gourd | ₹850 | ₹1,400 | ₹1,000 |
| Cucumbar(Kheera) | ₹750 | ₹1,000 | ₹850 |
| Cotton | ₹8,893 | ₹8,916 | ₹8,900 |
| Guar | ₹5,085 | ₹5,546 | ₹5,539 |
| Onion | ₹8 | ₹13 | ₹10 |
| Ridgeguard(Tori) | ₹1,000 | ₹1,450 | ₹1,200 |
| Mustard | ₹6,973 | ₹7,237 | ₹7,200 |
Source: Agmarknet daily arrivals for Sirsa, Haryana, as of 1 June 2026.
What Sirsa Actually Grows: Official Crop Statistics
In 2024-25, Sirsa's largest crops by area were Wheat, Cotton, Rice (Paddy). Wheat alone covered 2,80,915 ha (50% of the area under the crops listed below), with a yield of 5,016 kg/ha, 5% above the Haryana average. The biggest shifts since 2019-20: Gram (Chana) area -66%, Cotton area -31%.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Production (tonnes) | Yield (kg/ha) | Haryana avg yield | Area change since 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheat | 2,80,915 | 14,09,065 | 5,016 | 4,774 | -5% |
| Cotton | 1,36,769 | 4,21,903 | 524 | 2,953 | -31% |
| Rice (Paddy) | 1,36,343 | 5,01,264 | 3,676 | 3,766 | +31% |
| Bajra (Pearl Millet) | 5,670 | 13,224 | 2,332 | 2,225 | +5% |
| Barley | 1,600 | 5,657 | 3,536 | 3,653 | -5% |
| Gram (Chana) | 1,460 | 2,556 | 1,751 | 1,688 | -66% |
| Moong (Green Gram) | 1,421 | 1,127 | 793 | 907 | +166% |
| Jowar (Sorghum) | 70 | 37 | 527 | 527 | +17% |
| Sugarcane | 70 | 6,241 | 89,156 | 81,382 | - |
| Maize (Corn) | 55 | 204 | 3,714 | 3,716 | -8% |
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. Haryana average = sum of the state's district estimates.
Climate & Sowing Windows in Sirsa
Sirsa receives about 425 mm of rain in an average year, 76% of it in June-September. The wettest month is July (101 mm). Days are hottest in May (average high 43°C) and nights coolest in January (average low 6°C).
- Rain typically first crosses 100 mm a month in July, the usual cue for kharif sowing here.
- At about 425 mm a year this is dry country: hardy crops (bajra, guar, moth, pulses), water harvesting and drip irrigation make the most of every millimetre.
- Winter nights average about 6°C, cool enough for rabi crops such as wheat, mustard, gram and potato.
- 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 | 11 | 21° | 6° |
| February | 16 | 25° | 9° |
| March | 18 | 32° | 15° |
| April | 15 | 38° | 22° |
| May | 28 | 43° | 27° |
| June | 63 | 43° | 30° |
| July | 101 | 39° | 29° |
| August | 87 | 38° | 28° |
| September | 71 | 37° | 24° |
| October | 4 | 35° | 19° |
| November | 5 | 29° | 14° |
| December | 6 | 23° | 8° |
Source: NASA POWER long-term monthly averages (satellite and model based, so they can understate rain on coasts and hills) for the centre of Sirsa district (29.6063, 74.9037). These are normals, not a forecast for any one year; for this week see the farm weather forecast.
For Sirsa Farmers: Solar Pumps & Tractors
Districts Near Sirsa
Before you sell, compare mandis in neighbouring districts too (straight-line distance between district centres):
- Hanumangarh, Rajasthan - 64 km
- Mansa, Punjab - 64 km
- Bathinda, Punjab - 65 km
- Fatehabad - 65 km
- Sri Muktsar Sahib, Punjab - 84 km
- Hisar - 97 km
Land records and Farmer ID in Haryana
Government Schemes for Sirsa Farmers
Farmers in Sirsa 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 Sirsa's cotton growers, the solar pump and drip subsidies are especially valuable. Apply at the Sirsa district agriculture office, a CSC, or online via the Subsidy Finder.