Agriculture in Osmanabad 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 Osmanabad itself. Osmanabad'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.
What Osmanabad Actually Grows: Official Crop Statistics
In 2024-25, Osmanabad's largest crops by area were Soybean, Gram (Chana), Jowar (Sorghum). Soybean alone covered 4,54,313 ha (45% of the area under the crops listed below), with a yield of 1,410 kg/ha, 3% below the Maharashtra average. The biggest shifts since 2019-20: Soybean area +98%, Bajra (Pearl Millet) area -84%.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Production (tonnes) | Yield (kg/ha) | Maharashtra avg yield | Area change since 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soybean | 4,54,313 | 6,40,785 | 1,410 | 1,453 | +98% |
| Gram (Chana) | 1,94,357 | 2,36,275 | 1,216 | 1,031 | -1% |
| Jowar (Sorghum) | 1,74,167 | 2,27,980 | 1,309 | 1,091 | +17% |
| Urad (Black Gram) | 51,475 | 38,495 | 748 | 833 | +22% |
| Arhar (Tur/Pigeon Pea) | 43,359 | 38,368 | 885 | 1,160 | -35% |
| Sugarcane | 31,981 | 23,30,395 | 72,867 | 94,230 | +7% |
| Wheat | 23,650 | 32,555 | 1,377 | 1,922 | -4% |
| Maize (Corn) | 18,871 | 25,018 | 1,326 | 2,922 | -38% |
| Moong (Green Gram) | 11,232 | 7,825 | 697 | 640 | -33% |
| Safflower (Kusum) | 5,358 | 2,413 | 450 | 608 | -3% |
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 Osmanabad
Osmanabad receives about 723 mm of rain in an average year, 76% of it in June-September. The wettest month is September (172 mm). Days are hottest in May (average high 40°C) and nights coolest in December (average low 13°C).
- Rain typically first crosses 100 mm a month in June, the usual cue for kharif sowing here.
- January days still average 31°C, too warm for wheat to yield well; the cool season suits warm-tolerant pulses, oilseeds and vegetables better.
- May days average 40°C, so summer (zaid) crops and young orchards need frequent irrigation and mulching.
| Month | Rain (mm) | Avg high | Avg low |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 2 | 31° | 14° |
| February | 3 | 34° | 17° |
| March | 12 | 37° | 21° |
| April | 17 | 40° | 25° |
| May | 35 | 40° | 26° |
| June | 111 | 33° | 23° |
| July | 132 | 31° | 22° |
| August | 138 | 30° | 21° |
| September | 172 | 30° | 21° |
| October | 84 | 30° | 19° |
| November | 15 | 29° | 15° |
| December | 2 | 29° | 13° |
Source: NASA POWER long-term monthly averages (satellite and model based, so they can understate rain on coasts and hills) for the centre of Osmanabad district (18.1698, 76.118). These are normals, not a forecast for any one year; for this week see the farm weather forecast.
For Osmanabad Farmers: Solar Pumps & Tractors
Districts Near Osmanabad
Before you sell, compare mandis in neighbouring districts too (straight-line distance between district centres):
- Latur - 70 km
- Beed - 94 km
- Solapur - 96 km
- Bidar, Karnataka - 121 km
- Kalaburagi, Karnataka - 124 km
- Parbhani - 135 km
Land records and Farmer ID in Maharashtra
Government Schemes for Osmanabad Farmers
Farmers in Osmanabad 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 Osmanabad's cotton growers, crop insurance and the soil health card matter most for the black-soil crops here. Apply at the Osmanabad district agriculture office, a CSC, or online via the Subsidy Finder.