Agriculture in Bhandara 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 Bhandara itself. Bhandara'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.
What Bhandara Actually Grows: Official Crop Statistics
In 2024-25, Bhandara's largest crops by area were Rice (Paddy), Gram (Chana), Wheat. Rice (Paddy) alone covered 2,49,828 ha (83% of the area under the crops listed below), with a yield of 2,284 kg/ha, 1% below the Maharashtra average. The biggest shifts since 2019-20: Rice (Paddy) area +31%, Wheat area +30%.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Production (tonnes) | Yield (kg/ha) | Maharashtra avg yield | Area change since 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rice (Paddy) | 2,49,828 | 5,70,567 | 2,284 | 2,299 | +31% |
| Gram (Chana) | 18,546 | 19,205 | 1,036 | 1,031 | +6% |
| Wheat | 12,929 | 18,881 | 1,460 | 1,922 | +30% |
| Arhar (Tur/Pigeon Pea) | 9,427 | 4,117 | 437 | 1,160 | -9% |
| Sugarcane | 3,485 | 2,73,850 | 78,575 | 94,230 | +1% |
| Mustard (Rapeseed) | 2,860 | 1,416 | 495 | 403 | +611% |
| Maize (Corn) | 2,183 | 5,418 | 2,482 | 2,922 | - |
| Linseed (Alsi) | 616 | 316 | 513 | 318 | +1479% |
| Soybean | 469 | 386 | 823 | 1,453 | +74% |
| Cotton | 321 | 989 | 524 | 1,788 | +200% |
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 Bhandara
Bhandara receives about 1360 mm of rain in an average year, 89% of it in June-September. The wettest month is July (397 mm). Days are hottest in May (average high 44°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.
- 89% of the year's rain falls in June-September, so rabi and summer crops need assured irrigation.
- May days average 44°C, so summer (zaid) crops and young orchards need frequent irrigation and mulching.
| Month | Rain (mm) | Avg high | Avg low |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 16 | 29° | 12° |
| February | 12 | 33° | 16° |
| March | 20 | 37° | 20° |
| April | 15 | 42° | 25° |
| May | 24 | 44° | 29° |
| June | 231 | 37° | 27° |
| July | 397 | 30° | 24° |
| August | 348 | 29° | 23° |
| September | 229 | 30° | 23° |
| October | 53 | 29° | 19° |
| November | 10 | 28° | 15° |
| December | 5 | 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 Bhandara district (21.1226, 79.7945). These are normals, not a forecast for any one year; for this week see the farm weather forecast.
For Bhandara Farmers: Solar Pumps & Tractors
Districts Near Bhandara
Before you sell, compare mandis in neighbouring districts too (straight-line distance between district centres):
- Gondia - 56 km
- Nagpur - 81 km
- Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh - 99 km
- Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh - 104 km
- Chandrapur - 118 km
- Wardha - 127 km
Land records and Farmer ID in Maharashtra
Government Schemes for Bhandara Farmers
Farmers in Bhandara 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 Bhandara's cotton growers, crop insurance and the soil health card matter most for the black-soil crops here. Apply at the Bhandara district agriculture office, a CSC, or online via the Subsidy Finder.