Agriculture in Adilabad District: Southern Plateau and Hills
Telangana falls mainly in the Southern Plateau and Hills agro-climatic zone (semi-arid, 677-1000mm of rain a year across the zone), where rain-fed millet, groundnut and chilli belt of the southern Deccan is typical. Soils in this zone are mostly red sandy loam and shallow black soil. Crops commonly grown across the zone include Ragi (Finger Millet), Jowar (Sorghum), Groundnut, pulses, Cotton, chilli, oilseeds.
These are zone-level facts (ICAR / Planning Commission agro-climatic classification), not a crop census of Adilabad itself. What actually trades in Adilabad's own mandis is listed below. Adilabad's own month-by-month rainfall and temperatures are in the climate section.
Crop Calendar for the Southern Plateau and Hills
| Crop | Season & Window | All-India rate (16 October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 🌾 Ragi (Finger Millet) | Kharif (Sow: Jun-Jul, Harvest: Oct-Nov) | ₹2,776/qtl |
| 🌾 Jowar (Sorghum) | Kharif & Rabi | ₹3,721/qtl |
| 🥜 Groundnut | Kharif (Sow: Jun-Jul, Harvest: Oct-Nov) | ₹7,300/qtl |
| pulses | Local seasonal crop | - |
| 🪴 Cotton | Kharif (Sow: Apr-Jun, Pick: Oct-Jan) | ₹8,300/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 Adilabad
These are the crops actually trading in Adilabad's markets (Adilabad(Rythu Bazar) APMC, Asifabad APMC, Chinnoar APMC), with the modal price per quintal reported on 1 June 2026:
| Commodity | Min | Max | Modal Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bhindi(Ladies Finger) | ₹7,000 | ₹7,200 | ₹7,000 |
| Cauliflower | ₹9,000 | ₹9,200 | ₹9,000 |
| Green Chilli | ₹8,000 | ₹8,200 | ₹8,000 |
| Maize | ₹2,400 | ₹2,400 | ₹2,400 |
| Paddy(Common) | ₹2,400 | ₹2,400 | ₹2,400 |
| Tomato | ₹5,000 | ₹5,000 | ₹5,000 |
| Brinjal | ₹4,000 | ₹8,200 | ₹4,000 |
Source: Agmarknet daily arrivals for Adilabad, Telangana, as of 1 June 2026.
What Adilabad Actually Grows: Official Crop Statistics
In 2024-25, Adilabad's largest crops by area were Cotton, Jowar (Sorghum), Soybean. Cotton alone covered 1,76,771 ha (58% of the area under the crops listed below), with a yield of 670 kg/ha, 79% below the Telangana average. The biggest shifts since 2019-20: Maize (Corn) area +225%, Gram (Chana) area -60%.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Production (tonnes) | Yield (kg/ha) | Telangana avg yield | Area change since 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton | 1,76,771 | 6,96,807 | 670 | 3,194 | +26% |
| Jowar (Sorghum) | 46,824 | 97,574 | 2,084 | 2,301 | +474% |
| Soybean | 26,532 | 47,446 | 1,788 | 1,884 | -29% |
| Arhar (Tur/Pigeon Pea) | 23,681 | 19,266 | 814 | 934 | -1% |
| Gram (Chana) | 13,670 | 27,117 | 1,984 | 1,762 | -60% |
| Maize (Corn) | 10,864 | 51,065 | 4,700 | 5,860 | +225% |
| Wheat | 1,366 | 2,390 | 1,749 | 1,973 | -38% |
| Rice (Paddy) | 851 | 3,095 | 3,637 | 3,627 | +21% |
| Sesame (Til) | 824 | 312 | 378 | 636 | +177% |
| Moong (Green Gram) | 538 | 450 | 836 | 705 | -33% |
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. Telangana average = sum of the state's district estimates.
Climate & Sowing Windows in Adilabad
Adilabad receives about 963 mm of rain in an average year, 86% of it in June-September. The wettest month is July (273 mm). Days are hottest in May (average high 43°C) and nights coolest in December (average low 13°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.
- January days still average 30°C, too warm for wheat to yield well; the cool season suits warm-tolerant pulses, oilseeds and vegetables better.
- May days average 43°C, so summer (zaid) crops and young orchards need frequent irrigation and mulching.
| Month | Rain (mm) | Avg high | Avg low |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 12 | 30° | 13° |
| February | 7 | 34° | 17° |
| March | 20 | 38° | 21° |
| April | 13 | 42° | 26° |
| May | 18 | 43° | 29° |
| June | 155 | 36° | 26° |
| July | 273 | 31° | 23° |
| August | 237 | 29° | 23° |
| September | 160 | 29° | 22° |
| October | 56 | 30° | 20° |
| November | 10 | 29° | 16° |
| December | 2 | 29° | 13° |
Source: NASA POWER long-term monthly averages (satellite and model based, so they can understate rain on coasts and hills) for the centre of Adilabad district (19.5457, 78.6087). These are normals, not a forecast for any one year; for this week see the farm weather forecast.
For Adilabad Farmers: Solar Pumps & Tractors
Districts Near Adilabad
Before you sell, compare mandis in neighbouring districts too (straight-line distance between district centres):
- Nirmal - 55 km
- Yavatmal, Maharashtra - 63 km
- Jagtial - 87 km
- Kumuram Bheem Asifabad - 88 km
- Nizamabad - 101 km
- Chandrapur, Maharashtra - 112 km
Land records and Farmer ID in Telangana
Government Schemes for Adilabad Farmers
Farmers in Adilabad 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 Adilabad's ragi growers, the solar pump and drip subsidies are especially valuable. Apply at the Adilabad district agriculture office, a CSC, or online via the Subsidy Finder.