Agriculture in Hooghly District: Potato and rice belt
Hooghly is one of West Bengal's notable agricultural districts, best known for potato and rice belt. Its farmland is fed by Hooghly, Damodar and sits on predominantly fertile alluvial soil, a combination that favours rice, potato, jute. Unlike a generic state average, Hooghly'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 Hooghly
The district's main crops are Rice (Paddy), Potato, Jute, Sesame (Til). rice leads the local economy, so Hooghly farmers should track the Rice (Paddy) rate closely and plan sowing, inputs and storage around it. The fertile alluvial soil here is fertile and well-drained, ideal for wheat, rice, sugarcane and vegetables.
Crop Calendar for Hooghly (Sowing & Harvest)
Based on Hooghly'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) |
|---|---|---|
| 🍚 Rice (Paddy) | Kharif (Sow: Jun-Jul, Harvest: Oct-Nov) | ₹3,680/qtl |
| 🥔 Potato | Rabi (Sow: Oct-Nov, Harvest: Jan-Mar) | ₹1,000/qtl |
| 🌿 Jute | Kharif (Sow: Mar-Apr, Harvest: Jul-Sep) | ₹13,600/qtl |
| ⚪ Sesame (Til) | Kharif (Sow: Jun-Jul, Harvest: Sep-Oct) | ₹11,980/qtl |
Soil, Water & Irrigation in Hooghly
With fertile alluvial soil and water from the Hooghly, Damodar, the priority for Hooghly farmers is matching irrigation to the crop. Drip and sprinkler subsidies and a solar pump can cut water and power costs significantly. A free soil health card tells you exactly which nutrients your plot needs.
Best Way to Sell rice from Hooghly
Since rice is central to Hooghly, time your sale using the live rice rate. Compare rates at the nearest APMC mandi with the West Bengal price page. Grade and clean produce for a 15-20% premium, and list on eNAM to reach buyers beyond Hooghly.
Mandi Prices in Hooghly
These are the crops actually trading in Hooghly's markets (Pandua APMC, Champadanga APMC, Kalipur APMC, Sheoraphuly APMC), with the modal price per quintal reported on 1 June 2026:
| Commodity | Min | Max | Modal Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Onion | ₹1,200 | ₹1,600 | ₹1,388 |
| Tomato | ₹4,000 | ₹4,200 | ₹4,133 |
| Potato | ₹840 | ₹880 | ₹860 |
| Rice | ₹3,060 | ₹4,700 | ₹4,023 |
| Paddy(Common) | ₹2,300 | ₹2,800 | ₹2,560 |
| Sweet Pumpkin | ₹1,600 | ₹1,800 | ₹1,700 |
| Ridgeguard(Tori) | ₹1,500 | ₹1,700 | ₹1,600 |
| Ginger(Dry) | ₹13,000 | ₹14,000 | ₹13,000 |
| Bitter gourd | ₹2,600 | ₹2,800 | ₹2,800 |
| Brinjal | ₹3,400 | ₹3,750 | ₹3,600 |
Source: Agmarknet daily arrivals for Hooghly, West Bengal, as of 1 June 2026.
What Hooghly Actually Grows: Official Crop Statistics
In 2024-25, Hooghly's largest crops by area were Rice (Paddy), Sesame (Til), Groundnut. Rice (Paddy) alone covered 2,49,048 ha (75% of the area under the crops listed below), with a yield of 2,417 kg/ha, 16% below the West Bengal average. The biggest shifts since 2019-20: Mustard (Rapeseed) area -20%.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Production (tonnes) | Yield (kg/ha) | West Bengal avg yield | Area change since 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rice (Paddy) | 2,49,048 | 6,02,060 | 2,417 | 2,865 | -7% |
| Sesame (Til) | 38,369 | 47,626 | 1,241 | 1,014 | +2% |
| Groundnut | 20,434 | 57,037 | 2,791 | 3,045 | +10% |
| Jute | 10,374 | 2,33,509 | 4,052 | 16,378 | -17% |
| Mustard (Rapeseed) | 9,023 | 16,623 | 1,842 | 1,250 | -20% |
| Masur (Lentil) | 2,657 | 1,456 | 548 | 915 | -12% |
| Wheat | 876 | 2,742 | 3,130 | 3,130 | +1652% |
| Moong (Green Gram) | 456 | 464 | 1,018 | 875 | -36% |
| Sugarcane | 389 | 26,315 | 67,647 | 66,580 | -11% |
| Maize (Corn) | 229 | 1,432 | 6,254 | 6,999 | -34% |
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 Hooghly
Hooghly receives about 1460 mm of rain in an average year, 72% of it in June-September. The wettest month is July (316 mm). Days are hottest in April (average high 39°C) and nights coolest in January (average low 10°C).
- Rain typically first crosses 100 mm a month in May, the usual cue for kharif sowing here.
- Winter nights average about 10°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 | 11 | 24° | 10° |
| February | 18 | 29° | 14° |
| March | 29 | 35° | 19° |
| April | 50 | 39° | 24° |
| May | 144 | 38° | 26° |
| June | 221 | 34° | 27° |
| July | 316 | 32° | 26° |
| August | 282 | 31° | 26° |
| September | 233 | 30° | 25° |
| October | 130 | 30° | 22° |
| November | 17 | 27° | 16° |
| December | 9 | 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 Hooghly district (22.9099, 88.0121). These are normals, not a forecast for any one year; for this week see the farm weather forecast.
For Hooghly Farmers: Solar Pumps & Tractors
Districts Near Hooghly
Before you sell, compare mandis in neighbouring districts too (straight-line distance between district centres):
- Howrah - 46 km
- Purba Bardhaman - 54 km
- Kolkata - 55 km
- North 24 Parganas - 71 km
- Nadia - 85 km
- Bankura - 86 km
Land records and Farmer ID in West Bengal
Government Schemes for Hooghly Farmers
Farmers in Hooghly 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 Hooghly's rice growers, crop insurance, KCC and irrigation subsidies are the priority. Apply at the Hooghly district agriculture office, a CSC, or online via the Subsidy Finder.