Niger Seed
Sow in June, harvest around September
This season's sowing time (June–July) is over.
Grown on 4,187 acres here. Sold at 1 mandi in your district.
₹14,000–₹21,000
per acre a season, before costs
After typical costs: ₹5,000–₹12,000 an acre a season
- Suits: Rain is enough
- Suits: Ideal temperatures
- Suits: Soil 9/10
Why, and how to make it work Hide details
Water
Rain is enough, even in a dry year.
Needs about 320 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 720 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 35 °C / 24 °C (outside its best range)
- Jul 29 °C / 22 °C
- Aug 28 °C / 22 °C
- Sep 29 °C / 21 °C
Months in orange are outside its best range.
Soil
Soil for Niger Seed: 9 out of 10 (good).
- The pH here suits it.
- Many fields here are short of boron, which it needs a lot.
- Most fields here are short of nitrogen.
Likes pH 5.5–6.5.
How the soil score worksMoney
Yield: about 1.6 quintals an acre here in this season (district figures).
Mandi price at last season's harvest (September 2026): about ₹10,750 a quintal at mandis in your district.
Minimum support price: ₹10,052 a quintal (2026-27), if you sell to government procurement.
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
-
Short of nitrogen Your soil is likely short of nitrogen.
Add about a quarter more urea than the usual dose, in two or three splits. A pulse crop in rotation also adds nitrogen.
Ask your Krishi Vigyan Kendra what to add for this crop.
-
Short of boron Your soil is likely short of boron.
Mix 4 kg of borax per acre into the soil before sowing.
Ask your Krishi Vigyan Kendra what to add for this crop.