Agriculture in Howrah 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 Howrah itself. What actually trades in Howrah's own mandis is listed below. Howrah'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 (3 October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 🍚 Rice (Paddy) | Kharif (Sow: Jun-Jul, Harvest: Oct-Nov) | ₹3,680/qtl |
| 🌿 Jute | Kharif (Sow: Mar-Apr, Harvest: Jul-Sep) | ₹13,600/qtl |
| 🥔 Potato | Rabi (Sow: Oct-Nov, Harvest: Jan-Mar) | ₹1,000/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 Howrah
These are the crops actually trading in Howrah's markets (Uluberia APMC, Ramkrishanpur(Howrah) APMC), with the modal price per quintal reported on 1 June 2026:
| Commodity | Min | Max | Modal Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brinjal | ₹3,500 | ₹5,500 | ₹4,500 |
| Tomato | ₹2,800 | ₹4,500 | ₹3,250 |
| Bitter gourd | ₹3,200 | ₹4,500 | ₹3,750 |
| Green Chilli | ₹6,000 | ₹7,000 | ₹6,500 |
| Potato | ₹1,010 | ₹1,040 | ₹1,020 |
| Masur Dal | ₹8,800 | ₹9,200 | ₹9,000 |
| Ridgeguard(Tori) | ₹1,200 | ₹1,800 | ₹1,500 |
| Bhindi(Ladies Finger) | ₹1,200 | ₹1,800 | ₹1,500 |
| Rice | ₹2,800 | ₹2,900 | ₹2,850 |
Source: Agmarknet daily arrivals for Howrah, West Bengal, as of 1 June 2026.
What Howrah Actually Grows: Official Crop Statistics
In 2024-25, Howrah's largest crops by area were Rice (Paddy), Groundnut, Mustard (Rapeseed). Rice (Paddy) alone covered 92,021 ha (87% of the area under the crops listed below), with a yield of 2,341 kg/ha, 18% below the West Bengal average. The biggest shifts since 2019-20: Jute area -53%, Sesame (Til) area -38%.
| Crop | Area (ha) | Production (tonnes) | Yield (kg/ha) | West Bengal avg yield | Area change since 2019-20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rice (Paddy) | 92,021 | 2,15,431 | 2,341 | 2,865 | -10% |
| Groundnut | 4,583 | 18,642 | 4,067 | 3,045 | -6% |
| Mustard (Rapeseed) | 2,485 | 2,162 | 870 | 1,250 | -8% |
| Sesame (Til) | 2,346 | 2,283 | 973 | 1,014 | -38% |
| Jute | 2,004 | 42,507 | 3,818 | 16,378 | -53% |
| Moong (Green Gram) | 1,564 | 1,302 | 832 | 875 | -5% |
| Maize (Corn) | 125 | 931 | 7,452 | 6,999 | -18% |
| Masur (Lentil) | 104 | 103 | 987 | 915 | +4% |
| Sugarcane | 102 | 5,224 | 51,213 | 66,580 | +13% |
| Sunflower | 85 | 86 | 1,013 | 1,150 | +349% |
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 Howrah
Howrah receives about 1567 mm of rain in an average year, 72% of it in June-September. The wettest month is July (333 mm). Days are hottest in April (average high 38°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.
- At about 1567 mm a year, water is plentiful in season; field drainage matters as much as irrigation, and paddy and plantation crops suit the climate.
| Month | Rain (mm) | Avg high | Avg low |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 13 | 24° | 10° |
| February | 20 | 30° | 15° |
| March | 31 | 35° | 20° |
| April | 50 | 38° | 24° |
| May | 144 | 37° | 26° |
| June | 231 | 33° | 27° |
| July | 333 | 31° | 26° |
| August | 308 | 31° | 26° |
| September | 259 | 30° | 25° |
| October | 146 | 30° | 22° |
| November | 23 | 27° | 17° |
| 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 Howrah district (22.4956, 88.0381). These are normals, not a forecast for any one year; for this week see the farm weather forecast.
For Howrah Farmers: Solar Pumps & Tractors
Districts Near Howrah
Before you sell, compare mandis in neighbouring districts too (straight-line distance between district centres):
- Kolkata - 34 km
- Hooghly - 46 km
- Purba Medinipur - 52 km
- South 24 Parganas - 62 km
- Paschim Medinipur - 66 km
- North 24 Parganas - 68 km
Land records and Farmer ID in West Bengal
Government Schemes for Howrah Farmers
Farmers in Howrah 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 Howrah's rice growers, crop insurance, KCC and irrigation subsidies are the priority. Apply at the Howrah district agriculture office, a CSC, or online via the Subsidy Finder.