Date Palm (Khajur) Farming in India 2026
The desert gold of Kutch, thriving on heat and scarce water.
Overview
Date palm (khajur) is one of the most rewarding fruit crops for hot, dry regions of India, with Kutch in Gujarat and parts of western Rajasthan forming the commercial heartland. It tolerates extreme heat above 45 degrees Celsius, sandy soils and saline water that would kill most fruit crops, making it ideal for arid zones where little else pays. Tissue culture palms of soft, sweet table varieties like Barhee have transformed the crop, giving uniform high yielding orchards that fruit in three to four years instead of the long wait from seed. Indian fresh dates harvested in the doka and rutab stage command good prices because they reach the market when imported dates are scarce. With drip irrigation, good pollination and netting against rain damage, a well managed date orchard can give steady income for decades from land that is otherwise marginal. It suits farmers willing to invest upfront and wait a few years for returns.
Climate
Date palm needs a long, hot, dry summer and thrives in arid climates with very low humidity during fruiting. It tolerates temperatures above 45 degrees Celsius and survives winter cold down to a few degrees above freezing once established. The biggest enemy is rain or high humidity during the ripening months of June and July, which causes fruit cracking and rot, so dry regions like Kutch are ideal.
Soil
Date palm grows on a wide range of soils including deep sandy and sandy loam soils typical of desert regions. It is remarkably tolerant of salinity and can be irrigated with mildly saline water. Good drainage is essential since waterlogging harms the roots. A soil pH from 7 to 8.5 is well suited, and even calcareous or slightly alkaline desert soils support healthy growth.
Planting & Spacing
Plant tissue culture saplings or offshoots at the start of the monsoon or in spring, spaced about 8 metres by 8 metres, giving roughly 60 to 75 palms per acre. Dig large pits, fill with farmyard manure and topsoil, and ensure good drainage. Maintain a ratio of about one male palm for every 25 to 50 females for pollination, or collect and apply male pollen by hand. Install drip irrigation from the start.
Varieties
Barhee is the most popular tissue culture table variety in Kutch, prized for crisp sweet fruit eaten at the doka stage. Other grown types include Halawy, Khadrawy, Medjool, Khalas and the Indian selection Khuneji. Tissue culture plants are preferred because they are true to type, uniform and free of disease, though offshoots of proven mother palms are also used.
Care & Management
Provide regular drip irrigation, especially during fruit development, while avoiding waterlogging. Apply farmyard manure and balanced fertiliser yearly. Carry out hand pollination, bunch thinning to improve size, and bagging or netting of bunches to protect from birds, dust and unseasonal rain. Remove old, dried fronds and offshoots, and keep the orchard floor clean to reduce pests.
Pests & Diseases
Major problems include the red palm weevil and rhinoceros beetle, which bore into the trunk and crown and can kill palms if not controlled early. Date mites, lesser date moth and birds damage the fruit. Manage by sanitation, removing infested tissue, pheromone traps for weevils, and timely bunch covering. Fungal rots appear if humidity rises during ripening.
Yield & Harvest
Palms begin commercial fruiting in three to four years and reach full yield by seven to eight years. Indian dates are mostly harvested fresh at the doka (crunchy) or rutab (soft) stage from June to August. A mature palm yields about 70 to 120 kilograms per year depending on variety and care. Harvesting is done in stages as bunches ripen.
Cost & Profit
Establishment costs are high because tissue culture saplings and drip systems are expensive, so initial investment can run to a few lakh rupees per acre over the first years. Once in full bearing, growers in Kutch have reported gross returns ranging widely from around one lakh to several lakh rupees per acre per year, depending on yield, fruit quality and prevailing prices. These are indicative ranges only and actual returns vary greatly with weather, market and management, so treat them as broad estimates and not a guarantee.
These are indicative ranges. Actual cost and income vary by region, market and management, so verify locally.
Market & Demand
Fresh Indian dates sell strongly in domestic markets, especially during the season when imported dates are limited. Kutch growers supply wholesale mandis, retailers and increasingly direct buyers and online channels. Value addition into dried dates, date paste, pickles and chutneys raises returns. Cooperatives and farmer producer organisations help with collective marketing and cold storage.
Subsidy & Support
Date palm cultivation is supported under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture, which offers subsidies for planting material, drip irrigation and orchard establishment through state horticulture departments. Gujarat has run special programmes promoting tissue culture date palm in Kutch. Farmers should check current rates and apply through their district horticulture office.
Where to grow it in India
Frequently asked questions
How many years before a date palm gives fruit?
Where is date palm best grown in India?
Can date palm be irrigated with saline water?
Why is rain harmful to date palms?
Do I need male palms for pollination?
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