Agriculture in Pauri Garhwal 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 Pauri Garhwal itself. Pauri Garhwal'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 Pauri Garhwal Actually Grows: Official Crop Statistics
In 2024-25, Pauri Garhwal's largest crops by area were Ragi (Finger Millet), Wheat, Rice (Paddy). Ragi (Finger Millet) alone covered 7,579 ha (34% of the area under the crops listed below), with a yield of 1,687 kg/ha, 7% above the Uttarakhand average. The biggest shifts since 2019-20: Wheat area -55%, Ragi (Finger Millet) area -50%.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Production (tonnes) | Yield (kg/ha) | Uttarakhand avg yield | Area change since 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ragi (Finger Millet) | 7,579 | 12,782 | 1,687 | 1,583 | -50% |
| Wheat | 4,924 | 9,719 | 1,974 | 3,310 | -55% |
| Rice (Paddy) | 3,808 | 6,562 | 1,723 | 2,710 | -50% |
| Barley | 1,871 | 2,880 | 1,539 | 1,472 | -50% |
| Maize (Corn) | 1,393 | 3,285 | 2,358 | 2,743 | -39% |
| Mustard (Rapeseed) | 1,197 | 619 | 517 | 1,055 | -31% |
| Urad (Black Gram) | 937 | 760 | 811 | 918 | -70% |
| Soybean | 159 | 163 | 1,027 | 1,454 | -11% |
| Masur (Lentil) | 154 | 130 | 841 | 807 | -66% |
| Arhar (Tur/Pigeon Pea) | 47 | 47 | 990 | 1,178 | -70% |
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 Pauri Garhwal
Pauri Garhwal receives about 1331 mm of rain in an average year, 83% of it in June-September. The wettest month is July (393 mm). Days are hottest in May (average high 33°C) and nights coolest in January (average low 4°C).
- Rain typically first crosses 100 mm a month in June, the usual cue for kharif sowing here.
- 83% of the year's rain falls in June-September, so rabi and summer crops need assured irrigation.
- Winter nights average about 4°C, cool enough for rabi crops such as wheat, mustard, gram and potato.
| Month | Rain (mm) | Avg high | Avg low |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 34 | 15° | 4° |
| February | 43 | 18° | 6° |
| March | 36 | 23° | 10° |
| April | 29 | 29° | 15° |
| May | 44 | 33° | 20° |
| June | 163 | 33° | 21° |
| July | 393 | 28° | 21° |
| August | 373 | 26° | 20° |
| September | 180 | 25° | 18° |
| October | 19 | 23° | 14° |
| November | 5 | 20° | 9° |
| December | 12 | 17° | 6° |
Source: NASA POWER long-term monthly averages (satellite and model based, so they can understate rain on coasts and hills) for the centre of Pauri Garhwal district (29.8473, 78.707). These are normals, not a forecast for any one year; for this week see the farm weather forecast.
For Pauri Garhwal Farmers: Solar Pumps & Tractors
Districts Near Pauri Garhwal
Before you sell, compare mandis in neighbouring districts too (straight-line distance between district centres):
- Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh - 54 km
- Haridwar - 68 km
- Almora - 72 km
- Tehri Garhwal - 72 km
- Rudraprayag - 78 km
- Nainital - 92 km
Land records and Farmer ID in Uttarakhand
Government Schemes for Pauri Garhwal Farmers
Farmers in Pauri Garhwal 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 Pauri Garhwal's apple growers, crop insurance, KCC and irrigation subsidies are the priority. Apply at the Pauri Garhwal district agriculture office, a CSC, or online via the Subsidy Finder.