Agriculture in Solapur District: Jowar bowl and pomegranate exports
Solapur is one of Maharashtra's notable agricultural districts, best known for jowar bowl and pomegranate exports. Its farmland is fed by Bhima, Sina and sits on predominantly black soil, a combination that favours jowar, sugarcane, tur. Unlike a generic state average, Solapur'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 Solapur
The district's main crops are Jowar (Sorghum), Sugarcane, tur, Grapes, Pomegranate. jowar leads the local economy, so Solapur farmers should track the Jowar (Sorghum) rate closely and plan sowing, inputs and storage around it. The black soil here holds moisture well and suits cotton, soybean, pulses and oilseeds.
Crop Calendar for Solapur (Sowing & Harvest)
Based on Solapur'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) |
|---|---|---|
| 🌾 Jowar (Sorghum) | Kharif & Rabi | ₹3,608/qtl |
| 🎋 Sugarcane | Plant: Feb-Mar (spring) or Oct-Nov (autumn), Harvest: 10-12 months | ₹350/qtl |
| tur | Local seasonal crop | - |
| 🍇 Grapes | Feb-Apr | ₹10,500/qtl |
| 🔴 Pomegranate | Year-round (main: Feb-Apr & Sep-Nov) | ₹10,500/qtl |
Soil, Water & Irrigation in Solapur
With black soil and water from the Bhima, Sina, the priority for Solapur 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 jowar from Solapur
Since jowar is central to Solapur, time your sale using the live jowar rate. Sell at Solapur Mandi and compare with neighbouring mandis. Grade and clean produce for a 15-20% premium, and list on eNAM to reach buyers beyond Solapur.
Mandi Prices in Solapur
These are the crops actually trading in Solapur's markets (Dudhani APMC, Karmala APMC, Mangal Wedha APMC, Solapur APMC and 1 more), with the modal price per quintal reported on 1 June 2026:
| Commodity | Min | Max | Modal Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheat | ₹2,255 | ₹3,980 | ₹2,814 |
| Bengal Gram(Gram)(Whole) | ₹5,200 | ₹6,100 | ₹5,704 |
| Tomato | ₹400 | ₹4,000 | ₹2,250 |
| Maize | ₹1,600 | ₹2,325 | ₹2,040 |
| Onion | ₹100 | ₹3,000 | ₹1,250 |
| Jowar(Sorghum) | ₹2,500 | ₹4,751 | ₹3,650 |
| Green Chilli | ₹1,500 | ₹7,500 | ₹4,000 |
| Green Gram(Moong)(Whole) | ₹8,500 | ₹8,500 | ₹8,500 |
| Cucumbar(Kheera) | ₹1,000 | ₹7,800 | ₹6,000 |
| Ridgeguard(Tori) | ₹3,000 | ₹8,300 | ₹6,500 |
Source: Agmarknet daily arrivals for Solapur, Maharashtra, as of 1 June 2026.
What Solapur Actually Grows: Official Crop Statistics
In 2024-25, Solapur's largest crops by area were Jowar (Sorghum), Maize (Corn), Sugarcane. Jowar (Sorghum) alone covered 2,54,259 ha (24% of the area under the crops listed below), with a yield of 836 kg/ha, 23% below the Maharashtra average. The biggest shifts since 2019-20: Soybean area +296%, Urad (Black Gram) area +199%.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Production (tonnes) | Yield (kg/ha) | Maharashtra avg yield | Area change since 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jowar (Sorghum) | 2,54,259 | 2,12,597 | 836 | 1,091 | -45% |
| Maize (Corn) | 1,53,709 | 4,16,852 | 2,712 | 2,922 | +97% |
| Sugarcane | 1,50,586 | 1,45,89,715 | 96,887 | 94,230 | +55% |
| Soybean | 1,38,348 | 1,20,667 | 872 | 1,453 | +296% |
| Urad (Black Gram) | 1,05,164 | 94,802 | 901 | 833 | +199% |
| Arhar (Tur/Pigeon Pea) | 98,955 | 70,398 | 711 | 1,160 | +92% |
| Gram (Chana) | 56,590 | 43,180 | 763 | 1,031 | -15% |
| Wheat | 43,426 | 84,073 | 1,936 | 1,922 | -47% |
| Bajra (Pearl Millet) | 25,498 | 17,329 | 680 | 1,272 | -49% |
| Moong (Green Gram) | 13,913 | 7,903 | 568 | 640 | -11% |
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 Solapur
Solapur receives about 580 mm of rain in an average year, 76% of it in June-September. The wettest month is September (126 mm). Days are hottest in April (average high 40°C) and nights coolest in December (average low 14°C).
- Rain typically first crosses 100 mm a month in July, 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.
| Month | Rain (mm) | Avg high | Avg low |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 1 | 31° | 14° |
| February | 2 | 34° | 17° |
| March | 7 | 37° | 20° |
| April | 9 | 40° | 24° |
| May | 24 | 40° | 25° |
| June | 99 | 33° | 23° |
| July | 109 | 30° | 22° |
| August | 109 | 30° | 21° |
| September | 126 | 30° | 21° |
| October | 76 | 31° | 19° |
| November | 16 | 30° | 16° |
| December | 2 | 30° | 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 Solapur district (17.8499, 75.2763). These are normals, not a forecast for any one year; for this week see the farm weather forecast.
For Solapur Farmers: Solar Pumps & Tractors
Districts Near Solapur
Before you sell, compare mandis in neighbouring districts too (straight-line distance between district centres):
- Osmanabad - 96 km
- Sangli - 105 km
- Satara - 106 km
- Vijayapura, Karnataka - 132 km
- Beed - 143 km
- Ahmednagar - 153 km
Land records and Farmer ID in Maharashtra
Government Schemes for Solapur Farmers
Farmers in Solapur 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 Solapur's jowar growers, crop insurance and the soil health card matter most for the black-soil crops here. Apply at the Solapur district agriculture office, a CSC, or online via the Subsidy Finder.