Agriculture in Madurai District: East Coast Plains and Hills
Tamil Nadu 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 Madurai itself. What actually trades in Madurai's own mandis is listed below. Madurai'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.
Mandi Prices in Madurai
These are the crops actually trading in Madurai's markets (Anna nagar(Uzhavar Sandhai ), Chokkikulam(Uzhavar Sandhai ), Palanganatham(Uzhavar Sandhai ), Usilampatti(Uzhavar Sandhai ) and 3 more), with the modal price per quintal reported on 1 June 2026:
| Commodity | Min | Max | Modal Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Avare(W) | ₹9,000 | ₹13,000 | ₹11,417 |
| Lemon | ₹13,000 | ₹15,000 | ₹14,083 |
| Brinjal | ₹5,000 | ₹6,500 | ₹6,083 |
| Drumstick | ₹4,000 | ₹6,000 | ₹5,250 |
| Onion Green | ₹6,000 | ₹7,000 | ₹6,708 |
| Lime | ₹2,500 | ₹16,000 | ₹12,850 |
| Snakeguard | ₹2,800 | ₹4,500 | ₹3,840 |
| Elephant Yam(Suran)/Amorphophallus | ₹3,000 | ₹6,000 | ₹3,740 |
| Banana | ₹3,000 | ₹5,000 | ₹3,750 |
| Ashgourd | ₹1,500 | ₹2,000 | ₹1,870 |
Source: Agmarknet daily arrivals for Madurai, Tamil Nadu, as of 1 June 2026.
What Madurai Actually Grows: Official Crop Statistics
In 2024-25, Madurai's largest crops by area were Rice (Paddy), Maize (Corn), Jowar (Sorghum). Rice (Paddy) alone covered 52,345 ha (55% of the area under the crops listed below), with a yield of 3,355 kg/ha, 2% above the Tamil Nadu average. The biggest shifts since 2019-20: Cotton area -61%, Maize (Corn) area +49%.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Production (tonnes) | Yield (kg/ha) | Tamil Nadu avg yield | Area change since 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rice (Paddy) | 52,345 | 1,75,604 | 3,355 | 3,305 | +29% |
| Maize (Corn) | 22,350 | 1,04,826 | 4,690 | 5,489 | +49% |
| Jowar (Sorghum) | 8,460 | 12,732 | 1,505 | 1,211 | -22% |
| Cotton | 4,252 | 5,734 | 229 | 2,037 | -61% |
| Sugarcane | 1,649 | 1,66,918 | 1,01,221 | 1,02,001 | +22% |
| Moong (Green Gram) | 1,612 | 181 | 112 | 431 | -41% |
| Groundnut | 1,501 | 3,452 | 2,300 | 2,294 | -17% |
| Arhar (Tur/Pigeon Pea) | 1,443 | 432 | 299 | 677 | -32% |
| Urad (Black Gram) | 883 | 456 | 517 | 470 | -29% |
| Bajra (Pearl Millet) | 274 | 569 | 2,074 | 2,652 | -74% |
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. Tamil Nadu average = sum of the state's district estimates.
Climate & Sowing Windows in Madurai
Madurai receives about 962 mm of rain in an average year, 35% of it in June-September. The wettest month is October (197 mm). Days are hottest in April (average high 37°C) and nights coolest in January (average low 18°C).
- Unusually for India, 45% of Madurai's rain falls in October-December from the north-east monsoon, so the main cropping calendar follows that season rather than June sowing.
- January days still average 30°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 | 9 | 30° | 18° |
| February | 12 | 33° | 19° |
| March | 23 | 36° | 22° |
| April | 50 | 37° | 24° |
| May | 101 | 35° | 25° |
| June | 57 | 34° | 24° |
| July | 72 | 34° | 23° |
| August | 89 | 34° | 23° |
| September | 115 | 33° | 23° |
| October | 197 | 31° | 22° |
| November | 177 | 29° | 21° |
| December | 60 | 28° | 19° |
Source: NASA POWER long-term monthly averages (satellite and model based, so they can understate rain on coasts and hills) for the centre of Madurai district (9.9369, 78.0078). These are normals, not a forecast for any one year; for this week see the farm weather forecast.
For Madurai Farmers: Solar Pumps & Tractors
Districts Near Madurai
Before you sell, compare mandis in neighbouring districts too (straight-line distance between district centres):
- Virudhunagar - 52 km
- Dindigul - 58 km
- Sivaganga - 60 km
- Theni - 65 km
- Ramanathapuram - 73 km
- Pudukkottai - 97 km
Land records and Farmer ID in Tamil Nadu
Government Schemes for Madurai Farmers
Farmers in Madurai 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 Madurai's rice growers, crop insurance, KCC and irrigation subsidies are the priority. Apply at the Madurai district agriculture office, a CSC, or online via the Subsidy Finder.