Agriculture in Pune District: Sugarcane and horticulture belt
Pune is one of Maharashtra's notable agricultural districts, best known for sugarcane and horticulture belt. Its farmland is fed by Bhima, Mula, Mutha and sits on predominantly black cotton soil, a combination that favours sugarcane, jowar, onion. Unlike a generic state average, Pune'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 Pune
The district's main crops are Sugarcane, Jowar (Sorghum), Onion, vegetables. sugarcane leads the local economy, so Pune farmers should track the Sugarcane 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 Pune (Sowing & Harvest)
Based on Pune'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 (3 October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 🎋 Sugarcane | Plant: Feb-Mar (spring) or Oct-Nov (autumn), Harvest: 10-12 months | ₹350/qtl |
| 🌾 Jowar (Sorghum) | Kharif & Rabi | ₹3,608/qtl |
| 🧅 Onion | Kharif (Jun-Jul sow) & Rabi (Oct-Nov sow) | ₹4,800/qtl |
| vegetables | Local seasonal crop | - |
Soil, Water & Irrigation in Pune
With black cotton soil and water from the Bhima, Mula, Mutha, the priority for Pune 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 sugarcane from Pune
Since sugarcane is central to Pune, time your sale using the live sugarcane rate. Sell at Pune APMC Market Yard and compare with neighbouring mandis. Grade and clean produce for a 15-20% premium, and list on eNAM to reach buyers beyond Pune.
Mandi Prices in Pune
These are the crops actually trading in Pune's markets (Junnar(Narayangaon) APMC, Khed APMC, Pune APMC, Pune(Manjri) APMC and 2 more), with the modal price per quintal reported on 1 June 2026:
| Commodity | Min | Max | Modal Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mango(Raw-Ripe) | ₹1,000 | ₹5,000 | ₹2,875 |
| Bhindi(Ladies Finger) | ₹1,000 | ₹6,500 | ₹3,500 |
| Green Chilli | ₹600 | ₹7,400 | ₹3,833 |
| Guar | ₹2,000 | ₹7,000 | ₹4,333 |
| Mint(Pudina) | ₹1 | ₹10 | ₹7 |
| Jamun(Narale Hannu) | ₹5,000 | ₹18,000 | ₹12,667 |
| Onion Green | ₹10 | ₹30 | ₹17 |
| Papaya | ₹1,000 | ₹2,000 | ₹1,667 |
| Bottle gourd | ₹1,000 | ₹3,000 | ₹2,250 |
| Coriander(Leaves) | ₹5 | ₹1,800 | ₹406 |
Source: Agmarknet daily arrivals for Pune, Maharashtra, as of 1 June 2026.
What Pune Actually Grows: Official Crop Statistics
In 2024-25, Pune's largest crops by area were Sugarcane, Jowar (Sorghum), Maize (Corn). Sugarcane alone covered 1,25,682 ha (23% of the area under the crops listed below), with a yield of 1,02,866 kg/ha, 9% above the Maharashtra average. The biggest shifts since 2019-20: Soybean area +124%, Urad (Black Gram) area +104%.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Production (tonnes) | Yield (kg/ha) | Maharashtra avg yield | Area change since 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sugarcane | 1,25,682 | 1,29,28,408 | 1,02,866 | 94,230 | +14% |
| Jowar (Sorghum) | 87,997 | 1,00,431 | 1,141 | 1,091 | -44% |
| Maize (Corn) | 69,546 | 2,01,660 | 2,900 | 2,922 | +94% |
| Rice (Paddy) | 61,499 | 1,83,452 | 2,983 | 2,299 | +3% |
| Soybean | 49,850 | 1,02,958 | 2,065 | 1,453 | +124% |
| Bajra (Pearl Millet) | 48,856 | 76,161 | 1,559 | 1,272 | +23% |
| Wheat | 42,199 | 92,834 | 2,200 | 1,922 | +3% |
| Gram (Chana) | 27,696 | 29,249 | 1,056 | 1,031 | -66% |
| Groundnut | 14,749 | 21,972 | 1,490 | 1,448 | -47% |
| Moong (Green Gram) | 12,830 | 6,847 | 534 | 640 | -8% |
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 Pune
Pune receives about 1730 mm of rain in an average year, 90% of it in June-September. The wettest month is July (515 mm). Days are hottest in April (average high 38°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.
- 90% of the year's rain falls in June-September, so rabi and summer crops need assured irrigation.
- At about 1730 mm a year, water is plentiful in season; field drainage matters as much as irrigation, and paddy and plantation crops suit the climate.
| Month | Rain (mm) | Avg high | Avg low |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 1 | 28° | 12° |
| February | 1 | 31° | 14° |
| March | 5 | 35° | 17° |
| April | 4 | 38° | 20° |
| May | 26 | 36° | 21° |
| June | 362 | 29° | 22° |
| July | 515 | 26° | 22° |
| August | 409 | 26° | 21° |
| September | 275 | 27° | 20° |
| October | 106 | 28° | 18° |
| November | 22 | 27° | 15° |
| December | 4 | 27° | 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 Pune district (18.6449, 73.9224). These are normals, not a forecast for any one year; for this week see the farm weather forecast.
For Pune Farmers: Solar Pumps & Tractors
Districts Near Pune
Before you sell, compare mandis in neighbouring districts too (straight-line distance between district centres):
- Raigad - 84 km
- Thane - 99 km
- Ahmednagar - 114 km
- Satara - 119 km
- Mumbai City - 121 km
- Mumbai Suburban - 121 km
Land records and Farmer ID in Maharashtra
Government Schemes for Pune Farmers
Farmers in Pune 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 Pune's sugarcane growers, crop insurance and the soil health card matter most for the black-soil crops here. Apply at the Pune district agriculture office, a CSC, or online via the Subsidy Finder.