Agriculture in Tenkasi 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 Tenkasi itself. What actually trades in Tenkasi's own mandis is listed below. Tenkasi'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 Tenkasi
These are the crops actually trading in Tenkasi's markets (Sankarankoil(Uzhavar Sandhai ), Tenkasi(Uzhavar Sandhai )), with the modal price per quintal reported on 1 June 2026:
| Commodity | Min | Max | Modal Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raddish | ₹3,000 | ₹3,500 | ₹3,250 |
| Coriander(Leaves) | ₹6,000 | ₹7,000 | ₹6,500 |
| Tomato | ₹3,000 | ₹4,000 | ₹3,500 |
| Ridgeguard(Tori) | ₹5,000 | ₹5,000 | ₹5,000 |
| Papaya | ₹3,000 | ₹3,500 | ₹3,250 |
| Drumstick | ₹4,000 | ₹5,000 | ₹4,250 |
| Bottle gourd | ₹1,500 | ₹2,000 | ₹1,625 |
| Pumpkin | ₹1,500 | ₹2,500 | ₹2,000 |
| Cluster beans | ₹3,500 | ₹3,500 | ₹3,500 |
| Coconut | ₹5,000 | ₹5,000 | ₹5,000 |
Source: Agmarknet daily arrivals for Tenkasi, Tamil Nadu, as of 1 June 2026.
What Tenkasi Actually Grows: Official Crop Statistics
In 2024-25, Tenkasi's largest crops by area were Rice (Paddy), Urad (Black Gram), Maize (Corn). Rice (Paddy) alone covered 43,445 ha (46% of the area under the crops listed below), with a yield of 3,630 kg/ha, 10% above the Tamil Nadu average.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Production (tonnes) | Yield (kg/ha) | Tamil Nadu avg yield | Area change since 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rice (Paddy) | 43,445 | 1,57,724 | 3,630 | 3,305 | - |
| Urad (Black Gram) | 22,298 | 6,702 | 301 | 470 | - |
| Maize (Corn) | 19,260 | 89,488 | 4,646 | 5,489 | - |
| Jowar (Sorghum) | 5,037 | 6,382 | 1,267 | 1,211 | - |
| Cotton | 1,959 | 4,233 | 367 | 2,037 | - |
| Sugarcane | 1,389 | 1,00,230 | 72,157 | 1,02,001 | - |
| Groundnut | 868 | 1,793 | 2,065 | 2,294 | - |
| Sesame (Til) | 482 | 144 | 299 | 505 | - |
| Moong (Green Gram) | 143 | 21 | 150 | 431 | - |
| Bajra (Pearl Millet) | 127 | 335 | 2,634 | 2,652 | - |
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 Tenkasi
Tenkasi receives about 1343 mm of rain in an average year, 38% of it in June-September. The wettest month is October (255 mm). Days are hottest in March (average high 36°C) and nights coolest in January (average low 18°C).
- Unusually for India, 39% of Tenkasi'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 | 12 | 30° | 18° |
| February | 17 | 33° | 19° |
| March | 43 | 36° | 22° |
| April | 89 | 35° | 23° |
| May | 145 | 32° | 23° |
| June | 143 | 29° | 23° |
| July | 123 | 29° | 22° |
| August | 102 | 29° | 22° |
| September | 144 | 30° | 22° |
| October | 255 | 29° | 22° |
| November | 214 | 28° | 21° |
| December | 56 | 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 Tenkasi district (9.0934, 77.4758). These are normals, not a forecast for any one year; for this week see the farm weather forecast.
For Tenkasi Farmers: Solar Pumps & Tractors
Districts Near Tenkasi
Before you sell, compare mandis in neighbouring districts too (straight-line distance between district centres):
- Pathanamthitta, Kerala - 59 km
- Virudhunagar - 61 km
- Tirunelveli - 62 km
- Thoothukudi - 63 km
- Kollam, Kerala - 69 km
- Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala - 74 km
Land records and Farmer ID in Tamil Nadu
Government Schemes for Tenkasi Farmers
Farmers in Tenkasi 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 Tenkasi's rice growers, crop insurance, KCC and irrigation subsidies are the priority. Apply at the Tenkasi district agriculture office, a CSC, or online via the Subsidy Finder.