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 | Today's Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 🍵 Tea (Green Leaf) | Mar-Nov | ₹5,100/qtl |
| 🍚 Rice (Paddy) | Kharif (Sow: Jun-Jul, Harvest: Oct-Nov) | ₹3,700/qtl |
| 🌾 Wheat | Rabi (Sow: Oct-Nov, Harvest: Mar-Apr) | ₹2,600/qtl |
| 🌽 Maize (Corn) | Kharif (Sow: Jun-Jul, Harvest: Sep-Oct) | ₹2,300/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 brown hill 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.
Live Mandi Prices in Kangra Today
These are the crops actually trading in Kangra's markets (SMY Jassur, SMY Nagrota Bagwan, PMY Kangra, SMY Baijnath and 4 more), with today's modal price per quintal:
| 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. Updated daily.
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.