Rice

When to sow and harvest

Will it grow on your land?

What it needs

Source: FAO ECOCROP crop requirements (via OpenCLIM/ecocrop); FAO-56 crop coefficients (Allen et al. 1998); IMD gridded daily rainfall (0.25°); IMD gridded daily max/min temperature (1°).

• Blast

  Disease

  Look for Spindle-shaped spots with grey centres and brown edges on leaves; the neck below the ear turns black and ears stay empty.

  First Grow a resistant variety and don't overdo urea. If spots spread, spray tricyclazole. Follow the label or your KVK for the dose.

• Bacterial leaf blight

  Disease

  Look for Leaves dry from the tip and edges in long yellow-white streaks; drops of milky ooze on leaves in the morning.

  First Grow a resistant variety, split the urea and drain the field for a few days. Sprays don't help much.

• Sheath blight

  Disease

  Look for Oval grey-green patches with brown edges on the stem sheath near the water line, climbing up the plant.

  First Don't plant too close and split the urea. If it climbs past the middle of the plant, spray hexaconazole or validamycin. Follow the label or your KVK for the dose.

• Stem borer

  Pest

  Look for The central shoot dries out in young plants (dead heart); white, empty ears at heading.

  First Pull out dead hearts and use pheromone traps. Spray only if many plants are hit; ask your KVK.

• Brown planthopper

  Pest

  Look for Round patches of plants turn yellow, then brown and dry (hopper burn); brown insects crowd at the base of the plants.

  First Avoid too much urea, drain the field and leave a 30 cm path every 2 m. Spray at the plant base only when hoppers are many. Follow the label or your KVK for the dose.

Mandi price, month by month

Government minimum support price (MSP): ₹2,441 a quintal for 2026-27.

Source: Agmarknet daily prices and arrivals (India Data Portal).

Source: Crop area, production & yield – district-wise (Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare); Crop area, production & yield – UPAG (Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare). 2004-05 to 2024-25.

1. Malerkotla, Punjab 5.4 t/ha
2. Sangrur, Punjab 5.1 t/ha
3. Barnala, Punjab 5.1 t/ha
4. Moga, Punjab 4.9 t/ha
5. Ludhiana, Punjab 4.9 t/ha
6. Kurukshetra, Haryana 4.7 t/ha
7. Bathinda, Punjab 4.6 t/ha
8. Mansa, Punjab 4.6 t/ha
9. Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab 4.6 t/ha
10. Ferozepur, Punjab 4.6 t/ha

Only districts growing it on at least 100 ha.

Source: Crop area, production & yield – district-wise (Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare); Crop area, production & yield – UPAG (Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare). 2004-05 to 2024-25.

Only years in which most of the usual districts reported are shown.

Source: Crop area, production & yield – district-wise (Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare); Crop area, production & yield – UPAG (Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare). 2004-05 to 2024-25.

• Districts with more soil low in organic carbon tend to have higher rice yields (weak pattern, 679 districts).
• Districts with more soil that is alkaline tend to have higher rice yields (weak pattern, 680 districts).
• Districts with more soil high in organic carbon tend to have lower rice yields (weak pattern, 679 districts).
• Districts with more soil low in nitrogen tend to have higher rice yields (weak pattern, 666 districts).
• Districts with more soil medium in phosphorus tend to have lower rice yields (weak pattern, 680 districts).
• Districts with more soil medium in nitrogen tend to have lower rice yields (weak pattern, 666 districts).

A pattern is not proof that soil causes the difference.

Source: Soil Health Card – soil nutrient analysis (Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare); Crop area, production & yield – district-wise (Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare); Crop area, production & yield – UPAG (Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare).