Agriculture in Mandsaur District: One of Asia's largest garlic & coriander markets
Mandsaur is one of Madhya Pradesh's notable agricultural districts, best known for one of Asia's largest garlic & coriander markets. Its farmland is fed by Chambal, Shivna and sits on predominantly black soil, a combination that favours garlic, coriander, soybean. Unlike a generic state average, Mandsaur'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 Mandsaur
The district's main crops are Garlic, Coriander (Dhaniya), Soybean, opium. garlic leads the local economy, so Mandsaur farmers should track the Garlic rate closely and plan sowing, inputs and storage around it. The black soil here holds moisture well and suits cotton, soybean, pulses and oilseeds.
Crop Calendar for Mandsaur (Sowing & Harvest)
Based on Mandsaur'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 (3 October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 🧄 Garlic | Rabi (Sow: Oct-Nov, Harvest: Feb-Apr) | ₹16,500/qtl |
| 🌿 Coriander (Dhaniya) | Rabi (Sow: Oct-Nov, Harvest: Feb-Mar) | ₹5,500/qtl |
| 🫘 Soybean | Kharif (Sow: Jun-Jul, Harvest: Sep-Nov) | ₹5,650/qtl |
| opium | Local seasonal crop | - |
Soil, Water & Irrigation in Mandsaur
With black soil and water from the Chambal, Shivna, the priority for Mandsaur 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 garlic from Mandsaur
Since garlic is central to Mandsaur, time your sale using the live garlic rate. Sell at Mandsaur Mandi and compare with neighbouring mandis. Grade and clean produce for a 15-20% premium, and list on eNAM to reach buyers beyond Mandsaur.
Mandi Prices in Mandsaur
These are the crops actually trading in Mandsaur's markets (Piplya APMC, Shamgarh APMC, Sitmau APMC, Mandsaur APMC and 2 more), with the modal price per quintal reported on 1 June 2026:
| Commodity | Min | Max | Modal Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheat | ₹1,650 | ₹2,881 | ₹2,414 |
| Garlic | ₹1,002 | ₹19,002 | ₹5,815 |
| Soyabean | ₹3,320 | ₹7,450 | ₹6,930 |
| Bengal Gram(Gram)(Whole) | ₹4,710 | ₹5,760 | ₹5,701 |
| Onion | ₹100 | ₹1,600 | ₹1,234 |
| Mustard | ₹6,581 | ₹7,651 | ₹7,335 |
| Black Gram(Urd Beans)(Whole) | ₹4,821 | ₹7,011 | ₹5,916 |
| Asalia | ₹5,201 | ₹6,391 | ₹6,096 |
| Methi Seeds | ₹5,571 | ₹7,051 | ₹6,100 |
| Coriander(Leaves) | ₹10,900 | ₹12,800 | ₹11,700 |
Source: Agmarknet daily arrivals for Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh, as of 1 June 2026.
What Mandsaur Actually Grows: Official Crop Statistics
In 2024-25, Mandsaur's largest crops by area were Soybean, Wheat, Gram (Chana). Soybean alone covered 3,12,071 ha (54% of the area under the crops listed below), with a yield of 683 kg/ha, 25% below the Madhya Pradesh average. The biggest shifts since 2019-20: Masur (Lentil) area +172%, Urad (Black Gram) area -90%.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Production (tonnes) | Yield (kg/ha) | Madhya Pradesh avg yield | Area change since 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soybean | 3,12,071 | 2,13,082 | 683 | 916 | +3% |
| Wheat | 1,88,033 | 6,74,674 | 3,588 | 3,143 | -21% |
| Gram (Chana) | 25,233 | 35,644 | 1,413 | 1,543 | -16% |
| Masur (Lentil) | 14,296 | 10,523 | 736 | 956 | +172% |
| Groundnut | 9,284 | 16,386 | 1,765 | 2,207 | +768% |
| Linseed (Alsi) | 8,124 | 8,179 | 1,007 | 696 | -33% |
| Mustard (Rapeseed) | 7,447 | 8,973 | 1,205 | 1,322 | +78% |
| Maize (Corn) | 7,436 | 19,670 | 2,645 | 2,899 | -12% |
| Urad (Black Gram) | 2,463 | 1,068 | 434 | 723 | -90% |
| Bajra (Pearl Millet) | 672 | 753 | 1,121 | 2,801 | +465% |
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 Mandsaur
Mandsaur receives about 802 mm of rain in an average year, 93% of it in June-September. The wettest month is August (272 mm). Days are hottest in May (average high 42°C) and nights coolest in January (average low 9°C).
- Rain typically first crosses 100 mm a month in July, the usual cue for kharif sowing here.
- 93% of the year's rain falls in June-September, so rabi and summer crops need assured irrigation.
- Winter nights average about 9°C, cool enough for rabi crops such as wheat, mustard, gram and potato.
- March days already average 34°C, so late-sown wheat risks heat stress at grain filling. Sowing by mid-November is safer.
- May days average 42°C, so summer (zaid) crops and young orchards need frequent irrigation and mulching.
| Month | Rain (mm) | Avg high | Avg low |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 5 | 25° | 9° |
| February | 6 | 29° | 12° |
| March | 8 | 34° | 17° |
| April | 6 | 39° | 23° |
| May | 9 | 42° | 28° |
| June | 93 | 39° | 28° |
| July | 266 | 33° | 25° |
| August | 272 | 30° | 24° |
| September | 113 | 31° | 22° |
| October | 14 | 32° | 19° |
| November | 8 | 29° | 14° |
| December | 2 | 26° | 10° |
Source: NASA POWER long-term monthly averages (satellite and model based, so they can understate rain on coasts and hills) for the centre of Mandsaur district (24.2628, 75.3857). These are normals, not a forecast for any one year; for this week see the farm weather forecast.
For Mandsaur Farmers: Solar Pumps & Tractors
Districts Near Mandsaur
Before you sell, compare mandis in neighbouring districts too (straight-line distance between district centres):
- Neemuch - 46 km
- Pratapgarh, Rajasthan - 82 km
- Agar Malwa - 85 km
- Ratlam - 95 km
- Chittorgarh, Rajasthan - 105 km
- Ujjain - 111 km
Land records and Farmer ID in Madhya Pradesh
Government Schemes for Mandsaur Farmers
Farmers in Mandsaur 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 Mandsaur's garlic growers, crop insurance and the soil health card matter most for the black-soil crops here. Apply at the Mandsaur district agriculture office, a CSC, or online via the Subsidy Finder.