Niger Seed
Sow in June, harvest around September
This season's sowing time (June–July) is over.
Grown on 339 acres here. Priced from mandis across your state.
₹7,000–₹10,000
per acre a season, before costs
At typical costs, from a loss of ₹2,000 to a profit of ₹1,000 an acre a season
- Suits: Rain is enough
- Needs care: Warm in June
- Suits: Soil 9/10
Why, and how to make it work Hide details
Water
Rain is enough, even in a dry year.
Needs about 310 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 740 mm it can use in a normal year, and 580 mm in a dry year.
Heavy rain here can waterlog it. Grow it on raised beds or land that drains well.
Temperature
Grows best at 18–26 °C on average, and survives 11–34 °C.
Here, in its growing months (day / night):
- Jun 36 °C / 26 °C (outside its best range)
- Jul 30 °C / 24 °C (outside its best range)
- Aug 29 °C / 24 °C (outside its best range)
- Sep 30 °C / 24 °C (outside its best range)
Months in orange are outside its best range.
Soil
Soil for Niger Seed: 9 out of 10 (good).
- The pH here suits it.
- Most fields here are short of organic carbon.
- Most fields here are short of zinc.
Likes pH 5.5–6.5.
How the soil score worksMoney
Yield: about 1.0 quintals an acre here in this season (district figures).
Mandi price at last season's harvest (September–October 2026): about ₹8,488 a quintal across mandis in your state.
Minimum support price: ₹10,052 a quintal (2026-27), if you sell to government procurement.
- ₹6,030 2022
- ₹6,000 2023
- ₹7,100 2024
- ₹6,230 2025
Prices are usually best in September.
Typical costs are about ₹8,000 an acre (seed, fertiliser, labour and hired machines, from the government's cost survey). They are spent whatever the harvest.
How to make it work
The better districts with similar soil, rain and warmth get 1.7 quintals an acre. That's a realistic target.
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Short of organic carbon Your soil is likely short of organic carbon.
Add 4 tonnes of compost or farmyard manure per acre before sowing, and plough crop leftovers back in instead of burning them.
Few local farmers add it to this crop, so it's an easy place to get ahead.
-
Short of zinc Your soil is likely short of zinc.
Mix 10 kg of zinc sulphate per acre into the soil before sowing. One dose lasts two or three seasons.
Few local farmers add it to this crop, so it's an easy place to get ahead.
What local farmers put on it (share of fields):
- Urea 61%