Agriculture in Akola District: Western Plateau and Hills
Maharashtra falls mainly in the Western Plateau and Hills agro-climatic zone (semi-arid, 500-1000mm of rain a year across the zone), where Deccan black-soil tract; cotton, oilseeds, sugarcane and horticulture is typical. Soils in this zone are mostly deep black cotton soil (vertisol). Crops commonly grown across the zone include Cotton, Soybean, Jowar (Sorghum), tur, Sugarcane, Onion, Grapes.
These are zone-level facts (ICAR / Planning Commission agro-climatic classification), not a crop census of Akola itself. What actually trades in Akola's own mandis is listed below. Akola's own month-by-month rainfall and temperatures are in the climate section.
Crop Calendar for the Western Plateau and Hills
| Crop | Season & Window | All-India rate (16 October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 🪴 Cotton | Kharif (Sow: Apr-Jun, Pick: Oct-Jan) | ₹8,300/qtl |
| 🫘 Soybean | Kharif (Sow: Jun-Jul, Harvest: Sep-Nov) | ₹6,769/qtl |
| 🌾 Jowar (Sorghum) | Kharif & Rabi | ₹3,721/qtl |
| tur | Local seasonal crop | - |
| 🎋 Sugarcane | Plant: Feb-Mar (spring) or Oct-Nov (autumn), Harvest: 10-12 months | ₹350/qtl |
| 🧅 Onion | Kharif (Jun-Jul sow) & Rabi (Oct-Nov sow) | ₹4,250/qtl |
| 🍇 Grapes | Feb-Apr | ₹10,500/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 Akola
These are the crops actually trading in Akola's markets (Akola APMC), with the modal price per quintal reported on 1 June 2026:
| Commodity | Min | Max | Modal Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bengal Gram(Gram)(Whole) | ₹5,005 | ₹5,300 | ₹5,170 |
| Green Gram(Moong)(Whole) | ₹6,400 | ₹7,300 | ₹7,000 |
| Red gram/Arhar/Tur(whole) | ₹7,000 | ₹7,975 | ₹7,650 |
| Soyabean | ₹6,000 | ₹7,670 | ₹7,275 |
| Garlic | ₹8,000 | ₹14,000 | ₹10,000 |
| Wheat | ₹2,200 | ₹2,430 | ₹2,280 |
| Maize | ₹1,400 | ₹1,400 | ₹1,400 |
| Sesamum(Sesame,Gingelly,Til) | ₹10,000 | ₹10,275 | ₹10,150 |
| Ginger(Green) | ₹5,000 | ₹7,000 | ₹6,000 |
| Black Gram(Urd Beans)(Whole) | ₹4,780 | ₹4,905 | ₹4,842 |
Source: Agmarknet daily arrivals for Akola, Maharashtra, as of 1 June 2026.
What Akola Actually Grows: Official Crop Statistics
In 2024-25, Akola's largest crops by area were Soybean, Cotton, Gram (Chana). Soybean alone covered 2,36,205 ha (40% of the area under the crops listed below), with a yield of 1,025 kg/ha, 29% below the Maharashtra average. The biggest shifts since 2019-20: Groundnut area +102%, Urad (Black Gram) area -87%.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Production (tonnes) | Yield (kg/ha) | Maharashtra avg yield | Area change since 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soybean | 2,36,205 | 2,42,180 | 1,025 | 1,453 | +13% |
| Cotton | 1,22,443 | 1,88,038 | 261 | 1,788 | -21% |
| Gram (Chana) | 1,18,181 | 1,15,932 | 981 | 1,031 | +50% |
| Arhar (Tur/Pigeon Pea) | 61,328 | 77,075 | 1,257 | 1,160 | +20% |
| Wheat | 28,779 | 63,623 | 2,211 | 1,922 | +20% |
| Groundnut | 4,504 | 3,966 | 881 | 1,448 | +102% |
| Moong (Green Gram) | 4,145 | 1,092 | 264 | 640 | -79% |
| Jowar (Sorghum) | 3,864 | 3,218 | 833 | 1,091 | -66% |
| Urad (Black Gram) | 1,770 | 806 | 456 | 833 | -87% |
| Sesame (Til) | 1,555 | 326 | 210 | 373 | +11% |
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. Maharashtra average = sum of the state's district estimates.
Climate & Sowing Windows in Akola
Akola receives about 949 mm of rain in an average year, 88% of it in June-September. The wettest month is July (271 mm). Days are hottest in May (average high 43°C) and nights coolest in December (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.
- January days still average 29°C, too warm for wheat to yield well; the cool season suits warm-tolerant pulses, oilseeds and vegetables better.
- 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 | 11 | 29° | 13° |
| February | 8 | 33° | 16° |
| March | 18 | 37° | 20° |
| April | 9 | 42° | 25° |
| May | 16 | 43° | 28° |
| June | 168 | 36° | 26° |
| July | 271 | 31° | 23° |
| August | 228 | 29° | 23° |
| September | 164 | 30° | 22° |
| October | 42 | 30° | 19° |
| November | 11 | 30° | 15° |
| December | 3 | 29° | 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 Akola district (20.7618, 77.1921). These are normals, not a forecast for any one year; for this week see the farm weather forecast.
For Akola Farmers: Solar Pumps & Tractors
Districts Near Akola
Before you sell, compare mandis in neighbouring districts too (straight-line distance between district centres):
- Washim - 53 km
- Amravati - 64 km
- Buldhana - 84 km
- Burhanpur, Madhya Pradesh - 106 km
- Hingoli - 136 km
- Betul, Madhya Pradesh - 143 km
Land records and Farmer ID in Maharashtra
Government Schemes for Akola Farmers
Farmers in Akola 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 Akola's cotton growers, crop insurance and the soil health card matter most for the black-soil crops here. Apply at the Akola district agriculture office, a CSC, or online via the Subsidy Finder.