Agriculture in Ratnagiri 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 Ratnagiri itself. What actually trades in Ratnagiri's own mandis is listed below. Ratnagiri'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.
Mandi Prices in Ratnagiri
These are the crops actually trading in Ratnagiri's markets (Ratnagiri (Nachane) APMC), with the modal price per quintal reported on 1 June 2026:
| Commodity | Min | Max | Modal Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carrot | ₹3,000 | ₹3,500 | ₹3,300 |
| Chilly Capsicum | ₹5,500 | ₹6,000 | ₹5,800 |
| Bhindi(Ladies Finger) | ₹2,000 | ₹3,200 | ₹2,500 |
| Cucumbar(Kheera) | ₹2,500 | ₹3,500 | ₹3,000 |
| Bitter gourd | ₹3,500 | ₹4,000 | ₹3,600 |
| Green Chilli | ₹4,000 | ₹5,000 | ₹4,500 |
Source: Agmarknet daily arrivals for Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, as of 1 June 2026.
What Ratnagiri Actually Grows: Official Crop Statistics
In 2024-25, Ratnagiri's largest crops by area were Rice (Paddy), Ragi (Finger Millet), Mustard (Rapeseed). Rice (Paddy) alone covered 40,839 ha (88% of the area under the crops listed below), with a yield of 2,664 kg/ha, 16% above the Maharashtra average. The biggest shifts since 2019-20: Ragi (Finger Millet) area -52%, Rice (Paddy) area -46%.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Production (tonnes) | Yield (kg/ha) | Maharashtra avg yield | Area change since 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rice (Paddy) | 40,839 | 1,08,809 | 2,664 | 2,299 | -46% |
| Ragi (Finger Millet) | 4,924 | 8,071 | 1,639 | 1,397 | -52% |
| Mustard (Rapeseed) | 344 | 489 | 1,420 | 403 | +62% |
| Maize (Corn) | 61 | 152 | 2,503 | 2,922 | +164% |
| Groundnut | 34 | 85 | 2,501 | 1,448 | -42% |
| Arhar (Tur/Pigeon Pea) | 10 | 6 | 647 | 1,160 | - |
| Castor | 6 | 2 | 306 | 318 | - |
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 Ratnagiri
Ratnagiri receives about 2045 mm of rain in an average year, 91% of it in June-September. The wettest month is July (625 mm). Days are hottest in April (average high 38°C) and nights coolest in January (average low 14°C).
- Rain typically first crosses 100 mm a month in June, the usual cue for kharif sowing here.
- 91% of the year's rain falls in June-September, so rabi and summer crops need assured irrigation.
- At about 2045 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° | 14° |
| February | 1 | 34° | 16° |
| March | 3 | 37° | 19° |
| April | 4 | 38° | 21° |
| May | 48 | 36° | 22° |
| June | 457 | 29° | 23° |
| July | 625 | 26° | 22° |
| August | 485 | 26° | 22° |
| September | 290 | 27° | 21° |
| October | 112 | 28° | 19° |
| November | 18 | 28° | 16° |
| December | 2 | 29° | 14° |
Source: NASA POWER long-term monthly averages (satellite and model based, so they can understate rain on coasts and hills) for the centre of Ratnagiri district (17.2826, 73.457). These are normals, not a forecast for any one year; for this week see the farm weather forecast.
For Ratnagiri Farmers: Solar Pumps & Tractors
Districts Near Ratnagiri
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 Ratnagiri Farmers
Farmers in Ratnagiri 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 Ratnagiri's cotton growers, crop insurance and the soil health card matter most for the black-soil crops here. Apply at the Ratnagiri district agriculture office, a CSC, or online via the Subsidy Finder.