Agriculture in Sirmaur District: Western Himalayan Region
Himachal Pradesh falls mainly in the Western Himalayan Region agro-climatic zone (temperate to alpine, 165-2000mm of rain a year across the zone), where hilly terraced farming with horticulture and temperate fruits is typical. Soils in this zone are mostly brown hill, podzolic and submontane soils. Crops commonly grown across the zone include Apple, stone fruits, Maize (Corn), Wheat, Barley, saffron, Potato, Ginger.
These are zone-level facts (ICAR / Planning Commission agro-climatic classification), not a crop census of Sirmaur itself. Sirmaur's own month-by-month rainfall and temperatures are in the climate section.
Crop Calendar for the Western Himalayan Region
| Crop | Season & Window | All-India rate (3 October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 🍎 Apple | Aug-Nov | ₹8,000/qtl |
| stone fruits | Local seasonal crop | - |
| 🌽 Maize (Corn) | Kharif (Sow: Jun-Jul, Harvest: Sep-Oct) | ₹2,299/qtl |
| 🌾 Wheat | Rabi (Sow: Oct-Nov, Harvest: Mar-Apr) | ₹2,604/qtl |
| 🌾 Barley | Rabi (Sow: Oct-Nov, Harvest: Mar-Apr) | ₹2,600/qtl |
| saffron | Local seasonal crop | - |
| 🥔 Potato | Rabi (Sow: Oct-Nov, Harvest: Jan-Mar) | ₹1,000/qtl |
| 🫚 Ginger | Plant: Mar-May, Harvest: Dec-Feb | ₹6,000/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.
What Sirmaur Actually Grows: Official Crop Statistics
In 2024-25, Sirmaur's largest crops by area were Wheat, Maize (Corn), Rice (Paddy). Wheat alone covered 22,329 ha (45% of the area under the crops listed below), with a yield of 2,598 kg/ha, 23% above the Himachal Pradesh average.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Production (tonnes) | Yield (kg/ha) | Himachal Pradesh avg yield | Area change since 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheat | 22,329 | 58,014 | 2,598 | 2,120 | -13% |
| Maize (Corn) | 17,210 | 56,665 | 3,293 | 2,650 | -9% |
| Rice (Paddy) | 5,963 | 19,888 | 3,335 | 2,080 | -9% |
| Barley | 1,933 | 3,911 | 2,024 | 1,690 | -15% |
| Mustard (Rapeseed) | 886 | 620 | 700 | 810 | -11% |
| Urad (Black Gram) | 446 | 276 | 620 | 710 | -58% |
| Sugarcane | 373 | 8,594 | 23,039 | 15,440 | -57% |
| Ragi (Finger Millet) | 173 | 104 | 601 | 770 | -59% |
| Gram (Chana) | 84 | 134 | 1,594 | 1,020 | -7% |
| Soybean | 76 | 73 | 959 | 790 | +85% |
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 Sirmaur
Sirmaur receives about 1355 mm of rain in an average year, 82% of it in June-September. The wettest month is August (381 mm). Days are hottest in May (average high 37°C) and nights coolest in January (average low 6°C).
- Rain typically first crosses 100 mm a month in June, the usual cue for kharif sowing here.
- 82% of the year's rain falls in June-September, so rabi and summer crops need assured irrigation.
- Winter nights average about 6°C, cool enough for rabi crops such as wheat, mustard, gram and potato.
| Month | Rain (mm) | Avg high | Avg low |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 39 | 18° | 6° |
| February | 47 | 21° | 8° |
| March | 40 | 27° | 12° |
| April | 32 | 33° | 18° |
| May | 45 | 37° | 22° |
| June | 172 | 37° | 24° |
| July | 379 | 31° | 24° |
| August | 381 | 29° | 23° |
| September | 184 | 28° | 20° |
| October | 18 | 27° | 15° |
| November | 6 | 23° | 11° |
| December | 12 | 19° | 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 Sirmaur district (30.6991, 77.4465). These are normals, not a forecast for any one year; for this week see the farm weather forecast.
For Sirmaur Farmers: Solar Pumps & Tractors
Districts Near Sirmaur
Before you sell, compare mandis in neighbouring districts too (straight-line distance between district centres):
- Panchkula, Haryana - 43 km
- Dehradun, Uttarakhand - 46 km
- Yamunanagar, Haryana - 55 km
- Ambala, Haryana - 62 km
- Shimla - 65 km
- Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, Punjab - 68 km
Land records and Farmer ID in Himachal Pradesh
Government Schemes for Sirmaur Farmers
Farmers in Sirmaur 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 Sirmaur's apple growers, crop insurance, KCC and irrigation subsidies are the priority. Apply at the Sirmaur district agriculture office, a CSC, or online via the Subsidy Finder.