Agriculture in Sundargarh District: East Coast Plains and Hills
Odisha falls mainly in the East Coast Plains and Hills agro-climatic zone (hot humid, 780-1300mm of rain a year across the zone), where deltaic rice bowls (Kaveri, Godavari, Mahanadi) with coconut and chilli is typical. Soils in this zone are mostly alluvial coastal and red loam soil. Crops commonly grown across the zone include Rice (Paddy), Sugarcane, Groundnut, Coconut, chilli, oilseeds.
These are zone-level facts (ICAR / Planning Commission agro-climatic classification), not a crop census of Sundargarh itself. Sundargarh's own month-by-month rainfall and temperatures are in the climate section.
Crop Calendar for the East Coast Plains and Hills
| Crop | Season & Window | All-India rate (3 October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 🍚 Rice (Paddy) | Kharif (Sow: Jun-Jul, Harvest: Oct-Nov) | ₹3,680/qtl |
| 🎋 Sugarcane | Plant: Feb-Mar (spring) or Oct-Nov (autumn), Harvest: 10-12 months | ₹350/qtl |
| 🥜 Groundnut | Kharif (Sow: Jun-Jul, Harvest: Oct-Nov) | ₹6,913/qtl |
| 🥥 Coconut | Year-round perennial (peak: Nov-Jan) | ₹5,550/qtl |
| chilli | Local seasonal crop | - |
| oilseeds | Local seasonal crop | - |
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 Sundargarh Actually Grows: Official Crop Statistics
In 2024-25, Sundargarh's largest crops by area were Rice (Paddy), Mustard (Rapeseed), Moong (Green Gram). Rice (Paddy) alone covered 1,29,613 ha (95% of the area under the crops listed below), with a yield of 1,592 kg/ha, 36% below the Odisha average. The biggest shifts since 2019-20: Rice (Paddy) area -33%.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Production (tonnes) | Yield (kg/ha) | Odisha avg yield | Area change since 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rice (Paddy) | 1,29,613 | 2,06,330 | 1,592 | 2,485 | -33% |
| Mustard (Rapeseed) | 2,433 | 1,233 | 507 | 342 | +261% |
| Moong (Green Gram) | 1,334 | 627 | 470 | 480 | +114% |
| Groundnut | 1,275 | 1,620 | 1,270 | 2,096 | +137% |
| Sesame (Til) | 704 | 214 | 305 | 265 | +61% |
| Maize (Corn) | 566 | 1,522 | 2,691 | 3,071 | +24% |
| Ragi (Finger Millet) | 209 | 104 | 500 | 872 | +943% |
| Sugarcane | 29 | 3,384 | 1,16,666 | 51,338 | -65% |
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. Odisha average = sum of the state's district estimates.
Climate & Sowing Windows in Sundargarh
Sundargarh receives about 1373 mm of rain in an average year, 86% of it in June-September. The wettest month is July (382 mm). Days are hottest in May (average high 42°C) and nights coolest in January (average low 11°C).
- Rain typically first crosses 100 mm a month in June, the usual cue for kharif sowing here.
- 86% of the year's rain falls in June-September, so rabi and summer crops need assured irrigation.
- May days average 42°C, so summer (zaid) crops and young orchards need frequent irrigation and mulching.
| Month | Rain (mm) | Avg high | Avg low |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 13 | 25° | 11° |
| February | 14 | 30° | 14° |
| March | 20 | 35° | 19° |
| April | 25 | 40° | 25° |
| May | 37 | 42° | 28° |
| June | 196 | 36° | 27° |
| July | 382 | 31° | 25° |
| August | 373 | 30° | 24° |
| September | 226 | 30° | 24° |
| October | 70 | 29° | 20° |
| November | 7 | 27° | 15° |
| December | 10 | 24° | 11° |
Source: NASA POWER long-term monthly averages (satellite and model based, so they can understate rain on coasts and hills) for the centre of Sundargarh district (22.0605, 83.9359). These are normals, not a forecast for any one year; for this week see the farm weather forecast.
For Sundargarh Farmers: Solar Pumps & Tractors
Districts Near Sundargarh
Before you sell, compare mandis in neighbouring districts too (straight-line distance between district centres):
- Jharsuguda - 29 km
- Sambalpur - 60 km
- Raigarh, Chhattisgarh - 63 km
- Jashpur, Chhattisgarh - 79 km
- Simdega, Jharkhand - 86 km
- Bargarh - 100 km
Land records and Farmer ID in Odisha
Government Schemes for Sundargarh Farmers
Farmers in Sundargarh 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 Sundargarh's rice growers, crop insurance, KCC and irrigation subsidies are the priority. Apply at the Sundargarh district agriculture office, a CSC, or online via the Subsidy Finder.