Agriculture in Amravati District: Cotton and orange belt of Vidarbha
Amravati is one of Maharashtra's notable agricultural districts, best known for cotton and orange belt of Vidarbha. Its farmland is fed by Wardha, Purna and sits on predominantly black cotton soil, a combination that favours cotton, soybean, tur. Unlike a generic state average, Amravati'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 Amravati
The district's main crops are Cotton, Soybean, tur, Orange. cotton leads the local economy, so Amravati farmers should track the Cotton rate closely and plan sowing, inputs and storage around it. The black cotton soil here holds moisture well and suits cotton, soybean, pulses and oilseeds.
Crop Calendar for Amravati (Sowing & Harvest)
Based on Amravati'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 (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 |
| tur | Local seasonal crop | - |
| 🍊 Orange | Winter (Nov-Feb) | ₹9,000/qtl |
Soil, Water & Irrigation in Amravati
With black cotton soil and water from the Wardha, Purna, the priority for Amravati 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 cotton from Amravati
Since cotton is central to Amravati, time your sale using the live cotton rate. Compare rates at the nearest APMC mandi with the Maharashtra price page. Grade and clean produce for a 15-20% premium, and list on eNAM to reach buyers beyond Amravati.
What Amravati Actually Grows: Official Crop Statistics
In 2024-25, Amravati's largest crops by area were Soybean, Cotton, Arhar (Tur/Pigeon Pea). Soybean alone covered 2,59,265 ha (31% of the area under the crops listed below), with a yield of 1,432 kg/ha, 1% below the Maharashtra average. The biggest shifts since 2019-20: Sesame (Til) area +141%, Maize (Corn) area +117%.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Production (tonnes) | Yield (kg/ha) | Maharashtra avg yield | Area change since 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soybean | 2,59,265 | 3,71,185 | 1,432 | 1,453 | +9% |
| Cotton | 2,37,174 | 7,96,743 | 571 | 1,788 | -14% |
| Arhar (Tur/Pigeon Pea) | 1,17,420 | 1,03,997 | 886 | 1,160 | +7% |
| Gram (Chana) | 1,12,009 | 1,55,296 | 1,386 | 1,031 | +18% |
| Wheat | 52,389 | 83,996 | 1,603 | 1,922 | +22% |
| Maize (Corn) | 26,213 | 56,941 | 2,172 | 2,922 | +117% |
| Jowar (Sorghum) | 10,230 | 9,271 | 906 | 1,091 | -27% |
| Rice (Paddy) | 5,523 | 5,387 | 975 | 2,299 | -10% |
| Moong (Green Gram) | 3,776 | 746 | 198 | 640 | -70% |
| Sesame (Til) | 2,816 | 528 | 187 | 373 | +141% |
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 Amravati
Amravati 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 Amravati district (21.1545, 77.6443). These are normals, not a forecast for any one year; for this week see the farm weather forecast.
For Amravati Farmers: Solar Pumps & Tractors
Districts Near Amravati
Before you sell, compare mandis in neighbouring districts too (straight-line distance between district centres):
- Akola - 64 km
- Betul, Madhya Pradesh - 84 km
- Washim - 105 km
- Wardha - 107 km
- Pandhurna, Madhya Pradesh - 121 km
- Burhanpur, Madhya Pradesh - 133 km
Land records and Farmer ID in Maharashtra
Government Schemes for Amravati Farmers
Farmers in Amravati 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 Amravati's cotton growers, crop insurance and the soil health card matter most for the black-soil crops here. Apply at the Amravati district agriculture office, a CSC, or online via the Subsidy Finder.