Agriculture in Nalgonda District: Rice and chilli under Nagarjuna Sagar
Nalgonda is one of Telangana's notable agricultural districts, best known for rice and chilli under Nagarjuna Sagar. Its farmland is fed by Krishna, Musi and sits on predominantly red & black soil, a combination that favours rice, cotton, chilli. Unlike a generic state average, Nalgonda'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 Nalgonda
The district's main crops are Rice (Paddy), Cotton, chilli, redgram. rice leads the local economy, so Nalgonda farmers should track the Rice (Paddy) rate closely and plan sowing, inputs and storage around it. The red & black soil here holds moisture well and suits cotton, soybean, pulses and oilseeds.
Crop Calendar for Nalgonda (Sowing & Harvest)
Based on Nalgonda'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 (3 October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 🍚 Rice (Paddy) | Kharif (Sow: Jun-Jul, Harvest: Oct-Nov) | ₹3,680/qtl |
| 🪴 Cotton | Kharif (Sow: Apr-Jun, Pick: Oct-Jan) | ₹8,250/qtl |
| chilli | Local seasonal crop | - |
| redgram | Local seasonal crop | - |
Soil, Water & Irrigation in Nalgonda
With red & black soil and water from the Krishna, Musi, the priority for Nalgonda 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 rice from Nalgonda
Since rice is central to Nalgonda, time your sale using the live rice rate. Compare rates at the nearest APMC mandi with the Telangana price page. Grade and clean produce for a 15-20% premium, and list on eNAM to reach buyers beyond Nalgonda.
Mandi Prices in Nalgonda
These are the crops actually trading in Nalgonda's markets (Devarkonda(Mallepalli) APMC, Miryalguda(Rythu Bazar) APMC, Suryapeta APMC, Devarakonda APMC and 1 more), with the modal price per quintal reported on 1 June 2026:
| Commodity | Min | Max | Modal Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paddy(Common) | ₹2,189 | ₹4,200 | ₹3,709 |
| Carrot | ₹4,500 | ₹4,500 | ₹4,500 |
| Cluster beans | ₹5,000 | ₹5,000 | ₹5,000 |
| Green Chilli | ₹4,000 | ₹4,000 | ₹4,000 |
| Onion | ₹2,000 | ₹2,000 | ₹2,000 |
| Red gram/Arhar/Tur(whole) | ₹4,896 | ₹7,223 | ₹6,872 |
| Green Gram(Moong)(Whole) | ₹4,888 | ₹7,466 | ₹6,422 |
| Maize | ₹1,629 | ₹2,092 | ₹1,989 |
| Cabbage | ₹2,500 | ₹2,500 | ₹2,500 |
| Brinjal | ₹3,000 | ₹3,000 | ₹3,000 |
Source: Agmarknet daily arrivals for Nalgonda, Telangana, as of 1 June 2026.
What Nalgonda Actually Grows: Official Crop Statistics
In 2024-25, Nalgonda's largest crops by area were Rice (Paddy), Cotton, Groundnut. Rice (Paddy) alone covered 4,08,720 ha (64% of the area under the crops listed below), with a yield of 3,511 kg/ha, 3% below the Telangana average. The biggest shifts since 2019-20: Arhar (Tur/Pigeon Pea) area -79%, Groundnut area +78%.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Production (tonnes) | Yield (kg/ha) | Telangana avg yield | Area change since 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rice (Paddy) | 4,08,720 | 14,35,080 | 3,511 | 3,627 | +47% |
| Cotton | 2,21,682 | 5,52,145 | 423 | 3,194 | -19% |
| Groundnut | 8,953 | 22,195 | 2,479 | 2,106 | +78% |
| Arhar (Tur/Pigeon Pea) | 1,178 | 648 | 550 | 934 | -79% |
| Jowar (Sorghum) | 624 | 562 | 900 | 2,301 | +83% |
| Moong (Green Gram) | 512 | 658 | 1,285 | 705 | +92% |
| Maize (Corn) | 320 | 2,052 | 6,413 | 5,860 | +461% |
| Sugarcane | 123 | 11,437 | 93,000 | 93,064 | -6% |
| Bajra (Pearl Millet) | 65 | 74 | 1,137 | 1,030 | -29% |
| Castor | 59 | 73 | 1,235 | 1,102 | -57% |
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 Nalgonda
Nalgonda receives about 771 mm of rain in an average year, 72% of it in June-September. The wettest month is August (169 mm). Days are hottest in May (average high 41°C) and nights coolest in December (average low 16°C).
- Rain typically first crosses 100 mm a month in June, the usual cue for kharif sowing here.
- January days still average 31°C, too warm for wheat to yield well; the cool season suits warm-tolerant pulses, oilseeds and vegetables better.
- May days average 41°C, so summer (zaid) crops and young orchards need frequent irrigation and mulching.
| Month | Rain (mm) | Avg high | Avg low |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7 | 31° | 16° |
| February | 6 | 34° | 18° |
| March | 16 | 38° | 22° |
| April | 20 | 41° | 25° |
| May | 34 | 41° | 28° |
| June | 101 | 35° | 26° |
| July | 148 | 33° | 24° |
| August | 169 | 31° | 24° |
| September | 139 | 31° | 23° |
| October | 102 | 31° | 21° |
| November | 23 | 30° | 18° |
| December | 6 | 29° | 16° |
Source: NASA POWER long-term monthly averages (satellite and model based, so they can understate rain on coasts and hills) for the centre of Nalgonda district (16.858, 79.2175). These are normals, not a forecast for any one year; for this week see the farm weather forecast.
For Nalgonda Farmers: Solar Pumps & Tractors
Districts Near Nalgonda
Before you sell, compare mandis in neighbouring districts too (straight-line distance between district centres):
- Yadadri Bhuvanagiri - 65 km
- Suryapet - 66 km
- Nagarkurnool - 75 km
- Palnadu, Andhra Pradesh - 78 km
- Ranga Reddy - 92 km
- Jangaon - 99 km
Land records and Farmer ID in Telangana
Government Schemes for Nalgonda Farmers
Farmers in Nalgonda 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 Nalgonda's rice growers, crop insurance and the soil health card matter most for the black-soil crops here. Apply at the Nalgonda district agriculture office, a CSC, or online via the Subsidy Finder.