Agriculture in Kangra District: Kangra tea and hill paddy
Kangra is one of Himachal Pradesh's notable agricultural districts, best known for Kangra tea and hill paddy. Its farmland is fed by Beas and sits on predominantly brown hill soil, a combination that favours tea, rice, wheat. Unlike a generic state average, Kangra'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 Kangra
The district's main crops are Tea (Green Leaf), Rice (Paddy), Wheat, Maize (Corn). tea leads the local economy, so Kangra farmers should track the Tea (Green Leaf) rate closely and plan sowing, inputs and storage around it. The brown hill soil here suits plantation and spice crops on slopes.
Crop Calendar for Kangra (Sowing & Harvest)
Based on Kangra'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 (17 October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 🍵 Tea (Green Leaf) | Mar-Nov | ₹5,000/qtl |
| 🍚 Rice (Paddy) | Kharif (Sow: Jun-Jul, Harvest: Oct-Nov) | ₹3,900/qtl |
| 🌾 Wheat | Rabi (Sow: Oct-Nov, Harvest: Mar-Apr) | ₹2,675/qtl |
| 🌽 Maize (Corn) | Kharif (Sow: Jun-Jul, Harvest: Sep-Oct) | ₹2,330/qtl |
Soil, Water & Irrigation in Kangra
With brown hill soil and water from the Beas, the priority for Kangra farmers is matching irrigation to the crop. Drip and sprinkler subsidies and a solar pump can cut water and power costs significantly. A free soil health card tells you exactly which nutrients your plot needs.
Best Way to Sell tea from Kangra
Since tea is central to Kangra, time your sale using the live tea rate. Compare rates at the nearest APMC mandi with the Himachal Pradesh price page. Grade and clean produce for a 15-20% premium, and list on eNAM to reach buyers beyond Kangra.
Mandi Prices in Kangra
These are the crops actually trading in Kangra's markets (SMY Jassur, SMY Nagrota Bagwan, PMY Kangra, SMY Baijnath and 4 more), with the modal price per quintal reported on 1 June 2026:
| Commodity | Min | Max | Modal Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Chilli | ₹3,500 | ₹4,800 | ₹4,025 |
| Potato | ₹800 | ₹1,200 | ₹975 |
| Banana | ₹4,000 | ₹5,000 | ₹4,600 |
| Apple | ₹12,000 | ₹17,000 | ₹14,313 |
| Lemon | ₹7,000 | ₹9,000 | ₹8,213 |
| Cabbage | ₹1,100 | ₹1,800 | ₹1,463 |
| Bitter gourd | ₹2,000 | ₹3,000 | ₹2,400 |
| Pomegranate | ₹9,000 | ₹17,500 | ₹13,500 |
| Water Melon | ₹1,000 | ₹1,500 | ₹1,300 |
| French Beans(Frasbean) | ₹8,500 | ₹13,500 | ₹11,400 |
Source: Agmarknet daily arrivals for Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, as of 1 June 2026.
What Kangra Actually Grows: Official Crop Statistics
In 2024-25, Kangra's largest crops by area were Wheat, Maize (Corn), Rice (Paddy). Wheat alone covered 78,163 ha (48% of the area under the crops listed below), with a yield of 1,964 kg/ha, 7% below the Himachal Pradesh average. The biggest shifts since 2019-20: Urad (Black Gram) area +37%, Mustard (Rapeseed) area -35%.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Production (tonnes) | Yield (kg/ha) | Himachal Pradesh avg yield | Area change since 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheat | 78,163 | 1,53,490 | 1,964 | 2,120 | -8% |
| Maize (Corn) | 43,824 | 1,01,853 | 2,324 | 2,650 | -22% |
| Rice (Paddy) | 32,955 | 68,653 | 2,083 | 2,080 | -3% |
| Barley | 1,871 | 3,223 | 1,723 | 1,690 | -19% |
| Mustard (Rapeseed) | 1,543 | 1,017 | 659 | 810 | -35% |
| Urad (Black Gram) | 1,441 | 826 | 573 | 710 | +37% |
| Sesame (Til) | 1,279 | 370 | 290 | 290 | +1405% |
| Sugarcane | 812 | 10,483 | 12,910 | 15,440 | +62% |
| Bajra (Pearl Millet) | 85 | 49 | 571 | 480 | +13% |
| Gram (Chana) | 36 | 40 | 1,124 | 1,020 | -76% |
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. Himachal Pradesh average = sum of the state's district estimates.
Climate & Sowing Windows in Kangra
Kangra receives about 1058 mm of rain in an average year, 75% of it in June-September. The wettest month is July (274 mm). Days are hottest in June (average high 35°C) and nights coolest in January (average low 5°C).
- Rain typically first crosses 100 mm a month in June, the usual cue for kharif sowing here.
- Winter nights average about 5°C, cool enough for rabi crops such as wheat, mustard, gram and potato.
| Month | Rain (mm) | Avg high | Avg low |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 41 | 15° | 5° |
| February | 55 | 17° | 7° |
| March | 59 | 23° | 11° |
| April | 35 | 29° | 16° |
| May | 34 | 34° | 21° |
| June | 108 | 35° | 23° |
| July | 274 | 31° | 23° |
| August | 272 | 29° | 22° |
| September | 137 | 28° | 20° |
| October | 13 | 25° | 15° |
| November | 12 | 21° | 11° |
| December | 18 | 17° | 7° |
Source: NASA POWER long-term monthly averages (satellite and model based, so they can understate rain on coasts and hills) for the centre of Kangra district (32.0769, 76.2986). These are normals, not a forecast for any one year; for this week see the farm weather forecast.
For Kangra Farmers: Solar Pumps & Tractors
Districts Near Kangra
Before you sell, compare mandis in neighbouring districts too (straight-line distance between district centres):
- Hamirpur - 52 km
- Una - 55 km
- Pathankot, Punjab - 65 km
- Hoshiarpur, Punjab - 67 km
- Chamba - 70 km
- Mandi - 82 km
Land records and Farmer ID in Himachal Pradesh
Government Schemes for Kangra Farmers
Farmers in Kangra 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 Kangra's tea growers, crop insurance, KCC and irrigation subsidies are the priority. Apply at the Kangra district agriculture office, a CSC, or online via the Subsidy Finder.