Agriculture in Birbhum District: Lower Gangetic Plains
West Bengal falls mainly in the Lower Gangetic Plains agro-climatic zone (hot humid subtropical, 1300-1600mm of rain a year across the zone), where rice-jute belt of the Ganga delta with intensive cropping is typical. Soils in this zone are mostly alluvial, deltaic and red-laterite soil. Crops commonly grown across the zone include Rice (Paddy), Jute, Potato, oilseeds, vegetables, pulses.
These are zone-level facts (ICAR / Planning Commission agro-climatic classification), not a crop census of Birbhum itself. What actually trades in Birbhum's own mandis is listed below. Birbhum's own month-by-month rainfall and temperatures are in the climate section.
Crop Calendar for the Lower Gangetic Plains
| Crop | Season & Window | All-India rate (16 October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 🍚 Rice (Paddy) | Kharif (Sow: Jun-Jul, Harvest: Oct-Nov) | ₹3,750/qtl |
| 🌿 Jute | Kharif (Sow: Mar-Apr, Harvest: Jul-Sep) | ₹11,900/qtl |
| 🥔 Potato | Rabi (Sow: Oct-Nov, Harvest: Jan-Mar) | ₹1,100/qtl |
| oilseeds | Local seasonal crop | - |
| vegetables | Local seasonal crop | - |
| pulses | 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 Birbhum
These are the crops actually trading in Birbhum's markets (Bolpur APMC, Sainthia APMC, Birbhum APMC), with the modal price per quintal reported on 1 June 2026:
| Commodity | Min | Max | Modal Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paddy(Common) | ₹2,374 | ₹2,376 | ₹2,375 |
| Brinjal | ₹3,500 | ₹3,800 | ₹3,667 |
| Rice | ₹3,450 | ₹3,600 | ₹3,500 |
| Ginger(Dry) | ₹8,300 | ₹8,500 | ₹8,400 |
| Green Chilli | ₹8,300 | ₹8,500 | ₹8,400 |
| Onion | ₹1,800 | ₹2,000 | ₹1,900 |
| Potato | ₹950 | ₹1,050 | ₹1,000 |
| Mustard Oil | ₹15,100 | ₹15,300 | ₹15,200 |
Source: Agmarknet daily arrivals for Birbhum, West Bengal, as of 1 June 2026.
What Birbhum Actually Grows: Official Crop Statistics
In 2024-25, Birbhum's largest crops by area were Rice (Paddy), Mustard (Rapeseed), Masur (Lentil). Rice (Paddy) alone covered 3,99,827 ha (79% of the area under the crops listed below), with a yield of 3,152 kg/ha, 10% above the West Bengal average. The biggest shifts since 2019-20: Maize (Corn) area +212%, Wheat area -33%.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Production (tonnes) | Yield (kg/ha) | West Bengal avg yield | Area change since 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rice (Paddy) | 3,99,827 | 12,60,367 | 3,152 | 2,865 | +3% |
| Mustard (Rapeseed) | 45,114 | 49,498 | 1,097 | 1,250 | +14% |
| Masur (Lentil) | 20,762 | 19,500 | 939 | 915 | -2% |
| Wheat | 18,535 | 56,202 | 3,032 | 3,130 | -33% |
| Gram (Chana) | 11,245 | 16,368 | 1,456 | 1,240 | +5% |
| Sesame (Til) | 4,567 | 3,483 | 763 | 1,014 | -16% |
| Maize (Corn) | 4,436 | 25,321 | 5,709 | 6,999 | +212% |
| Urad (Black Gram) | 940 | 869 | 925 | 742 | +395% |
| Groundnut | 920 | 1,771 | 1,924 | 3,045 | +215% |
| Moong (Green Gram) | 918 | 945 | 1,029 | 875 | -45% |
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. West Bengal average = sum of the state's district estimates.
Climate & Sowing Windows in Birbhum
Birbhum receives about 1305 mm of rain in an average year, 74% of it in June-September. The wettest month is July (294 mm). Days are hottest in April (average high 39°C) and nights coolest in January (average low 9°C).
- Rain typically first crosses 100 mm a month in May, the usual cue for kharif sowing here.
- Winter nights average about 9°C, cool enough for rabi crops such as wheat, mustard, gram and potato.
- March days already average 35°C, so late-sown wheat risks heat stress at grain filling. Sowing by mid-November is safer.
| Month | Rain (mm) | Avg high | Avg low |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 10 | 24° | 9° |
| February | 11 | 29° | 13° |
| March | 22 | 35° | 18° |
| April | 50 | 39° | 23° |
| May | 124 | 39° | 26° |
| June | 201 | 35° | 27° |
| July | 294 | 32° | 26° |
| August | 249 | 31° | 25° |
| September | 224 | 30° | 25° |
| October | 106 | 29° | 21° |
| November | 8 | 27° | 15° |
| December | 6 | 24° | 11° |
Source: NASA POWER long-term monthly averages (satellite and model based, so they can understate rain on coasts and hills) for the centre of Birbhum district (24.0622, 87.6983). These are normals, not a forecast for any one year; for this week see the farm weather forecast.
For Birbhum Farmers: Solar Pumps & Tractors
Districts Near Birbhum
Before you sell, compare mandis in neighbouring districts too (straight-line distance between district centres):
- Dumka, Jharkhand - 52 km
- Pakur, Jharkhand - 53 km
- Paschim Bardhaman - 72 km
- Murshidabad - 72 km
- Purba Bardhaman - 78 km
- Jamtara, Jharkhand - 79 km
Land records and Farmer ID in West Bengal
Government Schemes for Birbhum Farmers
Farmers in Birbhum 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 Birbhum's rice growers, crop insurance, KCC and irrigation subsidies are the priority. Apply at the Birbhum district agriculture office, a CSC, or online via the Subsidy Finder.