Agriculture in Palakkad District: West Coast Plains and Ghats
Kerala falls mainly in the West Coast Plains and Ghats agro-climatic zone (humid tropical, 2000-3000mm of rain a year across the zone), where high-rainfall plantation belt of the Konkan and Malabar coast is typical. Soils in this zone are mostly laterite and coastal alluvial soil. Crops commonly grown across the zone include Rice (Paddy), Coconut, Arecanut (Supari), spices, Cashew Nut, Banana, rubber.
These are zone-level facts (ICAR / Planning Commission agro-climatic classification), not a crop census of Palakkad itself. Palakkad's own month-by-month rainfall and temperatures are in the climate section.
Crop Calendar for the West Coast Plains and Ghats
| Crop | Season & Window | All-India rate (3 October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 🍚 Rice (Paddy) | Kharif (Sow: Jun-Jul, Harvest: Oct-Nov) | ₹3,680/qtl |
| 🥥 Coconut | Year-round perennial (peak: Nov-Jan) | ₹5,550/qtl |
| 🌰 Arecanut (Supari) | Winter harvest | ₹28,899/qtl |
| spices | Local seasonal crop | - |
| 🌰 Cashew Nut | Mar-May | ₹10,500/qtl |
| 🍌 Banana | Year-round (12-15 months from planting) | ₹3,800/qtl |
| rubber | Local seasonal crop | - |
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 Palakkad Actually Grows: Official Crop Statistics
In 2024-25, Palakkad's largest crops by area were Rice (Paddy), Arhar (Tur/Pigeon Pea), Groundnut. Rice (Paddy) alone covered 65,603 ha (99% of the area under the crops listed below), with a yield of 3,175 kg/ha, 9% above the Kerala average.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Production (tonnes) | Yield (kg/ha) | Kerala avg yield | Area change since 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rice (Paddy) | 65,603 | 2,08,301 | 3,175 | 2,923 | -15% |
| Arhar (Tur/Pigeon Pea) | 123 | 213 | 1,730 | 1,533 | -60% |
| Groundnut | 82 | 122 | 1,497 | 1,497 | -30% |
| Ragi (Finger Millet) | 79 | 125 | 1,571 | 1,615 | -42% |
| Maize (Corn) | 75 | 249 | 3,328 | 3,117 | -23% |
| Urad (Black Gram) | 23 | 20 | 873 | 723 | - |
| Sesame (Til) | 20 | 4 | 205 | 526 | +209% |
| Bajra (Pearl Millet) | 17 | 31 | 1,789 | 1,789 | - |
| Moong (Green Gram) | 9 | 11 | 1,224 | 814 | - |
| Cotton | 4 | 32 | 1,495 | 8,794 | -93% |
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. Kerala average = sum of the state's district estimates.
Climate & Sowing Windows in Palakkad
Palakkad receives about 1986 mm of rain in an average year, 64% of it in June-September. The wettest month is June (393 mm). Days are hottest in March (average high 34°C) and nights coolest in January (average low 19°C).
- Rain typically first crosses 100 mm a month in May, the usual cue for kharif sowing here.
- At about 1986 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 | 6 | 31° | 19° |
| February | 10 | 33° | 20° |
| March | 34 | 34° | 22° |
| April | 83 | 33° | 23° |
| May | 188 | 30° | 23° |
| June | 393 | 27° | 23° |
| July | 375 | 26° | 22° |
| August | 283 | 26° | 22° |
| September | 215 | 27° | 22° |
| October | 246 | 27° | 22° |
| November | 127 | 28° | 21° |
| December | 26 | 28° | 19° |
Source: NASA POWER long-term monthly averages (satellite and model based, so they can understate rain on coasts and hills) for the centre of Palakkad district (10.7874, 76.4742). These are normals, not a forecast for any one year; for this week see the farm weather forecast.
For Palakkad Farmers: Solar Pumps & Tractors
Districts Near Palakkad
Before you sell, compare mandis in neighbouring districts too (straight-line distance between district centres):
- Thrissur - 41 km
- Malappuram - 53 km
- Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu - 66 km
- Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu - 77 km
- Ernakulam - 83 km
- Kozhikode - 99 km
Land records and Farmer ID in Kerala
Government Schemes for Palakkad Farmers
Farmers in Palakkad 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 Palakkad's rice growers, crop insurance, KCC and irrigation subsidies are the priority. Apply at the Palakkad district agriculture office, a CSC, or online via the Subsidy Finder.