Agriculture in Darjeeling 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 Darjeeling itself. What actually trades in Darjeeling's own mandis is listed below. Darjeeling'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 (17 October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 🍚 Rice (Paddy) | Kharif (Sow: Jun-Jul, Harvest: Oct-Nov) | ₹3,900/qtl |
| 🌿 Jute | Kharif (Sow: Mar-Apr, Harvest: Jul-Sep) | ₹11,200/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 Darjeeling
These are the crops actually trading in Darjeeling's markets (Darjeeling APMC, Siliguri APMC, Karsiyang(Matigara) APMC), with the modal price per quintal reported on 1 June 2026:
| Commodity | Min | Max | Modal Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabbage | ₹2,600 | ₹2,800 | ₹2,700 |
| Tomato | ₹1,900 | ₹2,800 | ₹2,350 |
| Potato | ₹1,400 | ₹1,600 | ₹1,500 |
| Rice | ₹4,800 | ₹5,000 | ₹4,900 |
| Onion | ₹1,800 | ₹2,000 | ₹1,900 |
| Raddish | ₹2,900 | ₹3,100 | ₹3,000 |
| Squash(Chappal Kadoo) | ₹2,800 | ₹3,000 | ₹2,900 |
| Masur Dal | ₹12,100 | ₹12,300 | ₹12,200 |
| Green Chilli | ₹6,000 | ₹6,500 | ₹6,200 |
| Banana | ₹2,000 | ₹2,200 | ₹2,100 |
Source: Agmarknet daily arrivals for Darjeeling, West Bengal, as of 1 June 2026.
What Darjeeling Actually Grows: Official Crop Statistics
In 2024-25, Darjeeling's largest crops by area were Rice (Paddy), Maize (Corn), Ragi (Finger Millet). Rice (Paddy) alone covered 25,693 ha (65% of the area under the crops listed below), with a yield of 2,067 kg/ha, 28% below the West Bengal average. The biggest shifts since 2019-20: Maize (Corn) area +95%, Jute area -46%.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Production (tonnes) | Yield (kg/ha) | West Bengal avg yield | Area change since 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rice (Paddy) | 25,693 | 53,113 | 2,067 | 2,865 | 0% |
| Maize (Corn) | 8,060 | 53,306 | 6,614 | 6,999 | +95% |
| Ragi (Finger Millet) | 3,250 | 3,134 | 964 | 1,012 | - |
| Jute | 1,382 | 16,201 | 2,110 | 16,378 | -46% |
| Mustard (Rapeseed) | 782 | 507 | 648 | 1,250 | +133% |
| Urad (Black Gram) | 212 | 117 | 551 | 742 | -73% |
| Masur (Lentil) | 176 | 177 | 1,008 | 915 | +171% |
| Moong (Green Gram) | 136 | 119 | 875 | 875 | -17% |
| Soybean | 18 | 13 | 702 | 750 | -91% |
| Sugarcane | 18 | 1,240 | 68,894 | 66,580 | +50% |
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 Darjeeling
Darjeeling receives about 1546 mm of rain in an average year, 78% of it in June-September. The wettest month is July (419 mm). Days are hottest in May (average high 27°C) and nights coolest in January (average low 6°C).
- Rain typically first crosses 100 mm a month in May, the usual cue for kharif sowing here.
- At about 1546 mm a year, water is plentiful in season; field drainage matters as much as irrigation, and paddy and plantation crops suit the climate.
- Winter nights average about 6°C, cool enough for rabi crops such as wheat, mustard, gram and potato.
| Month | Rain (mm) | Avg high | Avg low |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6 | 16° | 6° |
| February | 12 | 20° | 8° |
| March | 30 | 24° | 11° |
| April | 64 | 27° | 15° |
| May | 144 | 27° | 17° |
| June | 235 | 27° | 19° |
| July | 419 | 25° | 20° |
| August | 317 | 25° | 20° |
| September | 242 | 24° | 18° |
| October | 70 | 22° | 15° |
| November | 4 | 20° | 11° |
| December | 3 | 17° | 8° |
Source: NASA POWER long-term monthly averages (satellite and model based, so they can understate rain on coasts and hills) for the centre of Darjeeling district (26.8362, 88.3059). These are normals, not a forecast for any one year; for this week see the farm weather forecast.
For Darjeeling Farmers: Solar Pumps & Tractors
Districts Near Darjeeling
Before you sell, compare mandis in neighbouring districts too (straight-line distance between district centres):
- Kalimpong - 40 km
- Jalpaiguri - 48 km
- Kishanganj, Bihar - 70 km
- Araria, Bihar - 113 km
- Uttar Dinajpur - 113 km
- Alipurduar - 116 km
Land records and Farmer ID in West Bengal
Government Schemes for Darjeeling Farmers
Farmers in Darjeeling 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 Darjeeling's rice growers, crop insurance, KCC and irrigation subsidies are the priority. Apply at the Darjeeling district agriculture office, a CSC, or online via the Subsidy Finder.