Agriculture in Pandhurna 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 Pandhurna itself. Pandhurna'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.
What Pandhurna Actually Grows: Official Crop Statistics
In 2024-25, Pandhurna's largest crops by area were Cotton, Maize (Corn), Wheat. Cotton alone covered 45,804 ha (47% of the area under the crops listed below), with a yield of 519 kg/ha, 82% below the Madhya Pradesh average.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Production (tonnes) | Yield (kg/ha) | Madhya Pradesh avg yield | Area change since 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton | 45,804 | 1,39,822 | 519 | 2,859 | - |
| Maize (Corn) | 14,526 | 50,195 | 3,456 | 2,899 | - |
| Wheat | 11,381 | 32,613 | 2,865 | 3,143 | - |
| Arhar (Tur/Pigeon Pea) | 10,265 | 7,600 | 740 | 837 | - |
| Groundnut | 5,504 | 14,001 | 2,544 | 2,207 | - |
| Soybean | 2,850 | 3,232 | 1,134 | 916 | - |
| Gram (Chana) | 2,548 | 4,414 | 1,732 | 1,543 | - |
| Moong (Green Gram) | 2,189 | 1,722 | 787 | 1,152 | - |
| Jowar (Sorghum) | 1,051 | 1,508 | 1,434 | 2,033 | - |
| Rice (Paddy) | 934 | 1,895 | 2,029 | 2,338 | - |
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 Pandhurna
Pandhurna receives about 1092 mm of rain in an average year, 88% of it in June-September. The wettest month is July (318 mm). Days are hottest in May (average high 43°C) and nights coolest in January (average low 12°C).
- Rain typically first crosses 100 mm a month in June, the usual cue for kharif sowing here.
- 88% of the year's rain falls in June-September, so rabi and summer crops need assured irrigation.
- 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 | 14 | 28° | 12° |
| February | 10 | 32° | 15° |
| March | 18 | 36° | 20° |
| April | 10 | 41° | 25° |
| May | 18 | 43° | 28° |
| June | 190 | 36° | 26° |
| July | 318 | 30° | 23° |
| August | 279 | 29° | 23° |
| September | 179 | 29° | 22° |
| October | 42 | 29° | 19° |
| November | 11 | 28° | 15° |
| December | 3 | 28° | 12° |
Source: NASA POWER long-term monthly averages (satellite and model based, so they can understate rain on coasts and hills) for the centre of Pandhurna district (21.6877, 78.662). These are normals, not a forecast for any one year; for this week see the farm weather forecast.
For Pandhurna Farmers: Solar Pumps & Tractors
Districts Near Pandhurna
Before you sell, compare mandis in neighbouring districts too (straight-line distance between district centres):
- Chhindwara - 59 km
- Nagpur, Maharashtra - 70 km
- Betul - 84 km
- Wardha, Maharashtra - 96 km
- Amravati, Maharashtra - 121 km
- Seoni - 127 km
Land records and Farmer ID in Madhya Pradesh
Government Schemes for Pandhurna Farmers
Farmers in Pandhurna 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 Pandhurna's soybean growers, crop insurance and the soil health card matter most for the black-soil crops here. Apply at the Pandhurna district agriculture office, a CSC, or online via the Subsidy Finder.