Agriculture in Mumbai Suburban 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 Mumbai Suburban itself. Mumbai Suburban'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 (3 October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 🪴 Cotton | Kharif (Sow: Apr-Jun, Pick: Oct-Jan) | ₹8,250/qtl |
| 🫘 Soybean | Kharif (Sow: Jun-Jul, Harvest: Sep-Nov) | ₹5,650/qtl |
| 🌾 Jowar (Sorghum) | Kharif & Rabi | ₹3,608/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) | ₹4,800/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.
Climate & Sowing Windows in Mumbai Suburban
Mumbai Suburban receives about 2509 mm of rain in an average year, 94% of it in June-September. The wettest month is July (834 mm). Days are hottest in April (average high 38°C) and nights coolest in January (average low 15°C).
- Rain typically first crosses 100 mm a month in June, the usual cue for kharif sowing here.
- 94% of the year's rain falls in June-September, so rabi and summer crops need assured irrigation.
- At about 2509 mm a year, water is plentiful in season; field drainage matters as much as irrigation, and paddy and plantation crops suit the climate.
- January days still average 31°C, too warm for wheat to yield well; the cool season suits warm-tolerant pulses, oilseeds and vegetables better.
| Month | Rain (mm) | Avg high | Avg low |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 0 | 31° | 15° |
| February | 2 | 34° | 18° |
| March | 5 | 37° | 21° |
| April | 3 | 38° | 23° |
| May | 22 | 37° | 25° |
| June | 535 | 32° | 26° |
| July | 834 | 28° | 25° |
| August | 606 | 28° | 24° |
| September | 376 | 29° | 24° |
| October | 104 | 31° | 22° |
| November | 17 | 31° | 19° |
| December | 5 | 30° | 16° |
Source: NASA POWER long-term monthly averages (satellite and model based, so they can understate rain on coasts and hills) for the centre of Mumbai Suburban district (19.131, 72.8895). These are normals, not a forecast for any one year; for this week see the farm weather forecast.
For Mumbai Suburban Farmers: Solar Pumps & Tractors
Districts Near Mumbai Suburban
Before you sell, compare mandis in neighbouring districts too (straight-line distance between district centres):
Land records and Farmer ID in Maharashtra
Government Schemes for Mumbai Suburban Farmers
Farmers in Mumbai Suburban 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 Mumbai Suburban's cotton growers, crop insurance and the soil health card matter most for the black-soil crops here. Apply at the Mumbai Suburban district agriculture office, a CSC, or online via the Subsidy Finder.