Agriculture in Chamoli District: Western Himalayan Region
Uttarakhand falls mainly in the Western Himalayan Region agro-climatic zone (temperate to alpine, 165-2000mm of rain a year across the zone), where hilly terraced farming with horticulture and temperate fruits is typical. Soils in this zone are mostly brown hill, podzolic and submontane soils. Crops commonly grown across the zone include Apple, stone fruits, Maize (Corn), Wheat, Barley, saffron, Potato, Ginger.
These are zone-level facts (ICAR / Planning Commission agro-climatic classification), not a crop census of Chamoli itself. Chamoli's own month-by-month rainfall and temperatures are in the climate section.
Crop Calendar for the Western Himalayan Region
| Crop | Season & Window | All-India rate (17 October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 🍎 Apple | Aug-Nov | ₹8,000/qtl |
| stone fruits | Local seasonal crop | - |
| 🌽 Maize (Corn) | Kharif (Sow: Jun-Jul, Harvest: Sep-Oct) | ₹2,330/qtl |
| 🌾 Wheat | Rabi (Sow: Oct-Nov, Harvest: Mar-Apr) | ₹2,675/qtl |
| 🌾 Barley | Rabi (Sow: Oct-Nov, Harvest: Mar-Apr) | ₹2,600/qtl |
| saffron | Local seasonal crop | - |
| 🥔 Potato | Rabi (Sow: Oct-Nov, Harvest: Jan-Mar) | ₹1,100/qtl |
| 🫚 Ginger | Plant: Mar-May, Harvest: Dec-Feb | ₹6,000/qtl |
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.
What Chamoli Actually Grows: Official Crop Statistics
In 2024-25, Chamoli's largest crops by area were Wheat, Ragi (Finger Millet), Rice (Paddy). Wheat alone covered 11,477 ha (33% of the area under the crops listed below), with a yield of 1,673 kg/ha, 49% below the Uttarakhand average.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Production (tonnes) | Yield (kg/ha) | Uttarakhand avg yield | Area change since 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheat | 11,477 | 19,198 | 1,673 | 3,310 | -8% |
| Ragi (Finger Millet) | 9,800 | 15,757 | 1,608 | 1,583 | +13% |
| Rice (Paddy) | 9,617 | 16,739 | 1,741 | 2,710 | -8% |
| Barley | 1,784 | 2,552 | 1,430 | 1,472 | -2% |
| Urad (Black Gram) | 517 | 421 | 815 | 918 | -2% |
| Mustard (Rapeseed) | 403 | 217 | 538 | 1,055 | -20% |
| Soybean | 277 | 198 | 715 | 1,454 | -46% |
| Arhar (Tur/Pigeon Pea) | 229 | 227 | 990 | 1,178 | +24% |
| Maize (Corn) | 210 | 432 | 2,056 | 2,743 | +14% |
| Masur (Lentil) | 62 | 33 | 526 | 807 | -62% |
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. Uttarakhand average = sum of the state's district estimates.
Climate & Sowing Windows in Chamoli
Chamoli receives about 943 mm of rain in an average year, 78% of it in June-September. The wettest month is July (262 mm). Days are hottest in June (average high 19°C) and nights coolest in January (average low -8°C).
- Rain typically first crosses 100 mm a month in June, the usual cue for kharif sowing here.
- Winter nights average about -8°C, cool enough for rabi crops such as wheat, mustard, gram and potato.
- Satellite records show about 144 frost days a year. Protect potato, mustard at flowering and nursery vegetables, for example with a light irrigation before a cold night.
| Month | Rain (mm) | Avg high | Avg low |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 30 | 3° | -8° |
| February | 41 | 5° | -7° |
| March | 33 | 9° | -3° |
| April | 30 | 14° | 1° |
| May | 44 | 17° | 5° |
| June | 117 | 19° | 8° |
| July | 262 | 18° | 10° |
| August | 237 | 17° | 10° |
| September | 119 | 15° | 7° |
| October | 14 | 12° | 2° |
| November | 5 | 9° | -2° |
| December | 11 | 6° | -5° |
Source: NASA POWER long-term monthly averages (satellite and model based, so they can understate rain on coasts and hills) for the centre of Chamoli district (30.4986, 79.6191). These are normals, not a forecast for any one year; for this week see the farm weather forecast.
For Chamoli Farmers: Solar Pumps & Tractors
Districts Near Chamoli
Before you sell, compare mandis in neighbouring districts too (straight-line distance between district centres):
- Rudraprayag - 56 km
- Bageshwar - 62 km
- Almora - 90 km
- Pithoragarh - 93 km
- Uttarkashi - 107 km
- Tehri Garhwal - 109 km
Land records and Farmer ID in Uttarakhand
Government Schemes for Chamoli Farmers
Farmers in Chamoli 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 Chamoli's apple growers, crop insurance, KCC and irrigation subsidies are the priority. Apply at the Chamoli district agriculture office, a CSC, or online via the Subsidy Finder.