Agriculture in Banswara District: Western Dry Region
Rajasthan falls mainly in the Western Dry Region agro-climatic zone (arid hot desert, 100-400mm of rain a year across the zone), where Thar desert margin; drought-hardy millets, pulses and irrigated mustard is typical. Soils in this zone are mostly sandy desert and saline soil. Crops commonly grown across the zone include Bajra (Pearl Millet), moth bean, Guar Seed (Cluster Bean Seed), Cumin (Jeera), Mustard (Rapeseed), Wheat.
These are zone-level facts (ICAR / Planning Commission agro-climatic classification), not a crop census of Banswara itself. Banswara's own month-by-month rainfall and temperatures are in the climate section.
Crop Calendar for the Western Dry Region
| Crop | Season & Window | All-India rate (16 October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 🌾 Bajra (Pearl Millet) | Kharif (Sow: Jun-Jul, Harvest: Sep-Oct) | ₹2,380/qtl |
| moth bean | Local seasonal crop | - |
| 🌿 Guar Seed (Cluster Bean Seed) | Kharif (Sow: Jun-Jul, Harvest: Sep-Oct) | ₹7,300/qtl |
| 🌿 Cumin (Jeera) | Rabi (Sow: Oct-Nov, Harvest: Feb-Mar) | ₹7,495/qtl |
| 🌿 Mustard (Rapeseed) | Rabi (Sow: Oct-Nov, Harvest: Feb-Mar) | ₹8,000/qtl |
| 🌾 Wheat | Rabi (Sow: Oct-Nov, Harvest: Mar-Apr) | ₹2,642/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.
What Banswara Actually Grows: Official Crop Statistics
In 2024-25, Banswara's largest crops by area were Maize (Corn), Wheat, Soybean. Maize (Corn) alone covered 1,40,983 ha (38% of the area under the crops listed below), with a yield of 3,105 kg/ha, 17% above the Rajasthan average. The biggest shifts since 2019-20: Arhar (Tur/Pigeon Pea) area -58%, Maize (Corn) area +22%.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Production (tonnes) | Yield (kg/ha) | Rajasthan avg yield | Area change since 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maize (Corn) | 1,40,983 | 4,37,776 | 3,105 | 2,658 | +22% |
| Wheat | 99,293 | 1,89,033 | 1,904 | 3,559 | -10% |
| Soybean | 75,871 | 1,08,722 | 1,433 | 1,089 | +1% |
| Rice (Paddy) | 24,815 | 28,773 | 1,159 | 2,593 | -12% |
| Gram (Chana) | 17,365 | 21,460 | 1,236 | 1,215 | +8% |
| Cotton | 11,451 | 32,577 | 484 | 2,847 | +10% |
| Arhar (Tur/Pigeon Pea) | 1,704 | 1,347 | 790 | 903 | -58% |
| Urad (Black Gram) | 464 | 140 | 302 | 365 | -94% |
| Bajra (Pearl Millet) | 431 | 493 | 1,144 | 1,147 | +164% |
| Moong (Green Gram) | 342 | 241 | 703 | 516 | +4786% |
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. Rajasthan average = sum of the state's district estimates.
Climate & Sowing Windows in Banswara
Banswara receives about 821 mm of rain in an average year, 94% of it in June-September. The wettest month is July (267 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.
- 94% 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 | 3 | 28° | 11° |
| February | 3 | 31° | 13° |
| March | 5 | 36° | 18° |
| April | 4 | 41° | 23° |
| May | 9 | 42° | 27° |
| June | 106 | 38° | 27° |
| July | 267 | 32° | 24° |
| August | 264 | 30° | 23° |
| September | 133 | 31° | 22° |
| October | 17 | 32° | 19° |
| November | 8 | 31° | 15° |
| December | 2 | 29° | 12° |
Source: NASA POWER long-term monthly averages (satellite and model based, so they can understate rain on coasts and hills) for the centre of Banswara district (23.4915, 74.3502). These are normals, not a forecast for any one year; for this week see the farm weather forecast.
For Banswara Farmers: Solar Pumps & Tractors
Districts Near Banswara
Before you sell, compare mandis in neighbouring districts too (straight-line distance between district centres):
- Dungarpur - 58 km
- Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh - 62 km
- Pratapgarh - 65 km
- Dahod, Gujarat - 67 km
- Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh - 77 km
- Mahisagar, Gujarat - 78 km
Land records and Farmer ID in Rajasthan
Government Schemes for Banswara Farmers
Farmers in Banswara 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 Banswara's bajra growers, the solar pump and drip subsidies are especially valuable. Apply at the Banswara district agriculture office, a CSC, or online via the Subsidy Finder.