Agriculture in Warangal District: Cotton and chilli trading hub
Warangal is one of Telangana's notable agricultural districts, best known for cotton and chilli trading hub. Its farmland is fed by Godavari and sits on predominantly red sandy & black soil, a combination that favours cotton, rice, chilli. Unlike a generic state average, Warangal'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 Warangal
The district's main crops are Cotton, Rice (Paddy), chilli, Maize (Corn). cotton leads the local economy, so Warangal farmers should track the Cotton rate closely and plan sowing, inputs and storage around it. The red sandy & black soil here holds moisture well and suits cotton, soybean, pulses and oilseeds.
Crop Calendar for Warangal (Sowing & Harvest)
Based on Warangal'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) |
|---|---|---|
| 🪴 Cotton | Kharif (Sow: Apr-Jun, Pick: Oct-Jan) | ₹8,250/qtl |
| 🍚 Rice (Paddy) | Kharif (Sow: Jun-Jul, Harvest: Oct-Nov) | ₹3,680/qtl |
| chilli | Local seasonal crop | - |
| 🌽 Maize (Corn) | Kharif (Sow: Jun-Jul, Harvest: Sep-Oct) | ₹2,299/qtl |
Soil, Water & Irrigation in Warangal
With red sandy & black soil and water from the Godavari, the priority for Warangal farmers is matching irrigation to the crop. Because the soil drains quickly, a drip system (45-90% subsidy) pays back fast here and a solar pump cuts the high cost of pumping groundwater. A free soil health card tells you exactly which nutrients your plot needs.
Best Way to Sell cotton from Warangal
Since cotton is central to Warangal, time your sale using the live cotton rate. Sell at Warangal APMC and compare with neighbouring mandis. Grade and clean produce for a 15-20% premium, and list on eNAM to reach buyers beyond Warangal.
Mandi Prices in Warangal
These are the crops actually trading in Warangal's markets (Warangal APMC, Kesamudram APMC, Excise Colony,RBZ APMC, Jangaon APMC), with the modal price per quintal reported on 1 June 2026:
| Commodity | Min | Max | Modal Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Chilli | ₹2,500 | ₹5,000 | ₹3,875 |
| Turmeric | ₹4,621 | ₹11,823 | ₹10,823 |
| Mango | ₹1,000 | ₹5,300 | ₹2,175 |
| Grapes | ₹6,000 | ₹6,000 | ₹6,000 |
| Pomegranate | ₹10,000 | ₹12,000 | ₹11,000 |
| Field Pea | ₹5,500 | ₹6,000 | ₹5,750 |
| Yam(Ratalu) | ₹4,500 | ₹5,000 | ₹4,750 |
| Beetroot | ₹3,000 | ₹3,200 | ₹3,100 |
| Cauliflower | ₹4,500 | ₹5,000 | ₹4,750 |
| French Beans(Frasbean) | ₹10,000 | ₹11,000 | ₹10,500 |
Source: Agmarknet daily arrivals for Warangal, Telangana, as of 1 June 2026.
What Warangal Actually Grows: Official Crop Statistics
In 2024-25, Warangal's largest crops by area were Rice (Paddy), Cotton, Maize (Corn). Rice (Paddy) alone covered 91,485 ha (50% of the area under the crops listed below), with a yield of 3,480 kg/ha, 4% below the Telangana average. The biggest shifts since 2019-20: Maize (Corn) area -32%, Cotton area -30%.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Production (tonnes) | Yield (kg/ha) | Telangana avg yield | Area change since 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rice (Paddy) | 91,485 | 3,18,375 | 3,480 | 3,627 | +15% |
| Cotton | 48,792 | 1,08,075 | 377 | 3,194 | -30% |
| Maize (Corn) | 42,831 | 2,99,231 | 6,986 | 5,860 | -32% |
| Groundnut | 483 | 1,120 | 2,319 | 2,106 | -88% |
| Moong (Green Gram) | 320 | 221 | 691 | 705 | -43% |
| Jowar (Sorghum) | 179 | 164 | 917 | 2,301 | +16% |
| Arhar (Tur/Pigeon Pea) | 139 | 150 | 1,082 | 934 | -87% |
| Gram (Chana) | 68 | 120 | 1,762 | 1,762 | -84% |
| Tobacco | 41 | 121 | 2,947 | 2,732 | +4001% |
| Soybean | 14 | 26 | 1,884 | 1,884 | -65% |
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 Warangal
Warangal receives about 988 mm of rain in an average year, 80% of it in June-September. The wettest month is August (255 mm). Days are hottest in May (average high 42°C) and nights coolest in December (average low 15°C).
- Rain typically first crosses 100 mm a month in June, the usual cue for kharif sowing here.
- 80% 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 42°C, so summer (zaid) crops and young orchards need frequent irrigation and mulching.
| Month | Rain (mm) | Avg high | Avg low |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 9 | 30° | 15° |
| February | 6 | 35° | 18° |
| March | 16 | 39° | 22° |
| April | 20 | 41° | 26° |
| May | 30 | 42° | 28° |
| June | 140 | 35° | 26° |
| July | 233 | 32° | 24° |
| August | 255 | 30° | 23° |
| September | 161 | 30° | 23° |
| October | 95 | 30° | 21° |
| November | 17 | 29° | 17° |
| December | 6 | 29° | 15° |
Source: NASA POWER long-term monthly averages (satellite and model based, so they can understate rain on coasts and hills) for the centre of Warangal district (17.8676, 79.8019). These are normals, not a forecast for any one year; for this week see the farm weather forecast.
For Warangal Farmers: Solar Pumps & Tractors
Districts Near Warangal
Before you sell, compare mandis in neighbouring districts too (straight-line distance between district centres):
- Mahabubabad - 31 km
- Hanumakonda - 44 km
- Jayashankar Bhupalpally - 56 km
- Jangaon - 61 km
- Mulugu - 76 km
- Bhadradri Kothagudem - 83 km
Land records and Farmer ID in Telangana
Government Schemes for Warangal Farmers
Farmers in Warangal 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 Warangal's cotton growers, the solar pump and drip subsidies are especially valuable. Apply at the Warangal district agriculture office, a CSC, or online via the Subsidy Finder.