Agriculture in Damoh District: Central Plateau and Hills
Madhya Pradesh falls mainly in the Central Plateau and Hills agro-climatic zone (semi-arid to subhumid, 500-1300mm of rain a year across the zone), where Malwa-Bundelkhand black-soil belt led by soybean and pulses is typical. Soils in this zone are mostly black (vertisol), mixed red and black soil. Crops commonly grown across the zone include Soybean, Wheat, Gram (Chana), Sorghum Fodder, Cotton, Garlic, Coriander (Dhaniya).
These are zone-level facts (ICAR / Planning Commission agro-climatic classification), not a crop census of Damoh itself. What actually trades in Damoh's own mandis is listed below. Damoh's own month-by-month rainfall and temperatures are in the climate section.
Crop Calendar for the Central Plateau and Hills
| Crop | Season & Window | All-India rate (3 October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 🫘 Soybean | Kharif (Sow: Jun-Jul, Harvest: Sep-Nov) | ₹5,650/qtl |
| 🌾 Wheat | Rabi (Sow: Oct-Nov, Harvest: Mar-Apr) | ₹2,604/qtl |
| 🫘 Gram (Chana) | Rabi (Sow: Oct-Nov, Harvest: Feb-Mar) | ₹6,650/qtl |
| 🌾 Sorghum Fodder | Kharif (Sow: Jun-Jul, Harvest: Sep-Oct) | ₹3,500/qtl |
| 🪴 Cotton | Kharif (Sow: Apr-Jun, Pick: Oct-Jan) | ₹8,250/qtl |
| 🧄 Garlic | Rabi (Sow: Oct-Nov, Harvest: Feb-Apr) | ₹16,500/qtl |
| 🌿 Coriander (Dhaniya) | Rabi (Sow: Oct-Nov, Harvest: Feb-Mar) | ₹5,500/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.
Mandi Prices in Damoh
These are the crops actually trading in Damoh's markets (Hata APMC, Damoh APMC, Patharia APMC), with the modal price per quintal reported on 1 June 2026:
| Commodity | Min | Max | Modal Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mustard | ₹5,405 | ₹8,095 | ₹6,593 |
| Wheat | ₹2,240 | ₹2,350 | ₹2,275 |
| Black Gram(Urd Beans)(Whole) | ₹2,500 | ₹7,720 | ₹7,378 |
| Bengal Gram(Gram)(Whole) | ₹2,610 | ₹5,890 | ₹5,723 |
| Lentil(Masur)(Whole) | ₹5,720 | ₹9,320 | ₹6,350 |
| Green Peas | ₹1,850 | ₹4,435 | ₹4,020 |
| Mahua | ₹1,750 | ₹1,810 | ₹1,810 |
Source: Agmarknet daily arrivals for Damoh, Madhya Pradesh, as of 1 June 2026.
What Damoh Actually Grows: Official Crop Statistics
In 2024-25, Damoh's largest crops by area were Wheat, Soybean, Urad (Black Gram). Wheat alone covered 1,37,742 ha (23% of the area under the crops listed below), with a yield of 2,751 kg/ha, 12% below the Madhya Pradesh average. The biggest shifts since 2019-20: Masur (Lentil) area +54%, Gram (Chana) area -42%.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Production (tonnes) | Yield (kg/ha) | Madhya Pradesh avg yield | Area change since 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheat | 1,37,742 | 3,78,907 | 2,751 | 3,143 | -18% |
| Soybean | 90,749 | 89,256 | 984 | 916 | +1% |
| Urad (Black Gram) | 90,268 | 60,847 | 674 | 723 | -34% |
| Rice (Paddy) | 84,119 | 2,31,296 | 2,750 | 2,338 | +8% |
| Gram (Chana) | 66,990 | 1,10,912 | 1,656 | 1,543 | -42% |
| Moong (Green Gram) | 48,380 | 44,238 | 914 | 1,152 | +1519% |
| Masur (Lentil) | 35,344 | 34,782 | 984 | 956 | +54% |
| Arhar (Tur/Pigeon Pea) | 18,001 | 15,399 | 855 | 837 | +533% |
| Maize (Corn) | 17,088 | 40,516 | 2,371 | 2,899 | +1959% |
| Mustard (Rapeseed) | 5,205 | 4,851 | 932 | 1,322 | +376% |
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. Madhya Pradesh average = sum of the state's district estimates.
Climate & Sowing Windows in Damoh
Damoh receives about 1196 mm of rain in an average year, 91% of it in June-September. The wettest month is July (392 mm). Days are hottest in May (average high 43°C) and nights coolest in January (average low 8°C).
- Rain typically first crosses 100 mm a month in June, the usual cue for kharif sowing here.
- 91% of the year's rain falls in June-September, so rabi and summer crops need assured irrigation.
- Winter nights average about 8°C, cool enough for rabi crops such as wheat, mustard, gram and potato.
- March days already average 35°C, so late-sown wheat risks heat stress at grain filling. Sowing by mid-November is safer.
- 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 | 15 | 25° | 8° |
| February | 17 | 29° | 12° |
| March | 15 | 35° | 17° |
| April | 7 | 41° | 23° |
| May | 15 | 43° | 28° |
| June | 159 | 39° | 28° |
| July | 392 | 32° | 24° |
| August | 358 | 30° | 24° |
| September | 179 | 30° | 22° |
| October | 26 | 29° | 18° |
| November | 7 | 27° | 13° |
| December | 6 | 25° | 9° |
Source: NASA POWER long-term monthly averages (satellite and model based, so they can understate rain on coasts and hills) for the centre of Damoh district (23.7981, 79.5419). These are normals, not a forecast for any one year; for this week see the farm weather forecast.
For Damoh Farmers: Solar Pumps & Tractors
Districts Near Damoh
Before you sell, compare mandis in neighbouring districts too (straight-line distance between district centres):
- Katni - 74 km
- Jabalpur - 78 km
- Sagar - 80 km
- Panna - 95 km
- Narsinghpur - 107 km
- Chhatarpur - 108 km
Land records and Farmer ID in Madhya Pradesh
Government Schemes for Damoh Farmers
Farmers in Damoh 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 Damoh's soybean growers, crop insurance and the soil health card matter most for the black-soil crops here. Apply at the Damoh district agriculture office, a CSC, or online via the Subsidy Finder.