Agriculture in Amritsar District: Intensive wheat-paddy rotation
Amritsar is one of Punjab's notable agricultural districts, best known for intensive wheat-paddy rotation. Its farmland is fed by Ravi and sits on predominantly alluvial soil, a combination that favours wheat, rice, vegetables. Unlike a generic state average, Amritsar'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 Amritsar
The district's main crops are Wheat, Rice (Paddy), vegetables. wheat leads the local economy, so Amritsar farmers should track the Wheat rate closely and plan sowing, inputs and storage around it. The alluvial soil here is fertile and well-drained, ideal for wheat, rice, sugarcane and vegetables.
Crop Calendar for Amritsar (Sowing & Harvest)
Based on Amritsar'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 (16 October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 🌾 Wheat | Rabi (Sow: Oct-Nov, Harvest: Mar-Apr) | ₹2,642/qtl |
| 🍚 Rice (Paddy) | Kharif (Sow: Jun-Jul, Harvest: Oct-Nov) | ₹3,750/qtl |
| vegetables | Local seasonal crop | - |
Soil, Water & Irrigation in Amritsar
With alluvial soil and water from the Ravi, the priority for Amritsar 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 wheat from Amritsar
Since wheat is central to Amritsar, time your sale using the live wheat rate. Sell at Amritsar Grain Market and compare with neighbouring mandis. Grade and clean produce for a 15-20% premium, and list on eNAM to reach buyers beyond Amritsar.
Mandi Prices in Amritsar
These are the crops actually trading in Amritsar's markets (Majitha APMC, Rayya APMC), with the modal price per quintal reported on 1 June 2026:
| Commodity | Min | Max | Modal Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tinda | ₹1,200 | ₹1,895 | ₹1,548 |
| Brinjal | ₹1,310 | ₹1,310 | ₹1,310 |
| Carrot | ₹1,105 | ₹1,105 | ₹1,105 |
| Bitter gourd | ₹1,000 | ₹1,000 | ₹1,000 |
| Bhindi(Ladies Finger) | ₹900 | ₹900 | ₹900 |
| Potato | ₹410 | ₹410 | ₹410 |
| Raddish | ₹710 | ₹725 | ₹718 |
Source: Agmarknet daily arrivals for Amritsar, Punjab, as of 1 June 2026.
What Amritsar Actually Grows: Official Crop Statistics
In 2024-25, Amritsar's largest crops by area were Wheat, Rice (Paddy), Sugarcane. Wheat alone covered 1,86,398 ha (49% of the area under the crops listed below), with a yield of 5,188 kg/ha, 1% above the Punjab average. The biggest shifts since 2019-20: Moong (Green Gram) area -66%, Mustard (Rapeseed) area +25%.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Production (tonnes) | Yield (kg/ha) | Punjab avg yield | Area change since 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheat | 1,86,398 | 9,67,025 | 5,188 | 5,130 | -1% |
| Rice (Paddy) | 1,82,303 | 6,26,770 | 3,438 | 4,433 | +1% |
| Sugarcane | 5,210 | 4,14,394 | 79,538 | 81,952 | -21% |
| Mustard (Rapeseed) | 2,500 | 4,817 | 1,927 | 1,771 | +25% |
| Moong (Green Gram) | 1,100 | 715 | 650 | 890 | -66% |
| Sesame (Til) | 210 | 89 | 426 | 437 | -70% |
| Maize (Corn) | 200 | 916 | 4,579 | 4,289 | -91% |
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. Punjab average = sum of the state's district estimates.
Climate & Sowing Windows in Amritsar
Amritsar receives about 820 mm of rain in an average year, 75% of it in June-September. The wettest month is July (230 mm). Days are hottest in June (average high 43°C) and nights coolest in January (average low 6°C).
- Rain typically first crosses 100 mm a month in July, the usual cue for kharif sowing here.
- Winter nights average about 6°C, cool enough for rabi crops such as wheat, mustard, gram and potato.
- 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 | 30 | 19° | 6° |
| February | 43 | 23° | 9° |
| March | 45 | 29° | 14° |
| April | 27 | 36° | 20° |
| May | 21 | 42° | 26° |
| June | 83 | 43° | 29° |
| July | 230 | 38° | 29° |
| August | 202 | 36° | 27° |
| September | 101 | 34° | 24° |
| October | 13 | 32° | 19° |
| November | 9 | 26° | 13° |
| December | 16 | 21° | 8° |
Source: NASA POWER long-term monthly averages (satellite and model based, so they can understate rain on coasts and hills) for the centre of Amritsar district (31.7686, 74.8316). These are normals, not a forecast for any one year; for this week see the farm weather forecast.
For Amritsar Farmers: Solar Pumps & Tractors
Districts Near Amritsar
Before you sell, compare mandis in neighbouring districts too (straight-line distance between district centres):
- Gurdaspur - 40 km
- Tarn Taran - 50 km
- Kapurthala - 62 km
- Jalandhar - 88 km
- Samba, Jammu & Kashmir - 94 km
- Hoshiarpur - 98 km
Land records and Farmer ID in Punjab
Government Schemes for Amritsar Farmers
Farmers in Amritsar 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 Amritsar's wheat growers, crop insurance, KCC and irrigation subsidies are the priority. Apply at the Amritsar district agriculture office, a CSC, or online via the Subsidy Finder.