Niger Seed
Sow in June, harvest around September
This season's sowing time (June–July) is over.
Grown on 1,559 acres here. Sold at 2 mandis in your district.
₹20,000–₹30,000
per acre a season, before costs
After typical costs: ₹11,000–₹21,000 an acre a season
- Suits: Rain is enough
- Needs care: Warm in June
- Suits: Soil 10/10
Why, and how to make it work Hide details
Water
Rain is enough, even in a dry year.
Needs about 340 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 720 mm it can use in a normal year, and 500 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 38 °C / 27 °C (outside its best range)
- Jul 31 °C / 24 °C (outside its best range)
- Aug 30 °C / 24 °C (outside its best range)
- Sep 31 °C / 24 °C (outside its best range)
Months in orange are outside its best range.
Soil
Soil for Niger Seed: 10 out of 10 (good).
- The pH here suits it.
Likes pH 5.5–6.5.
How the soil score worksMoney
Yield: about 2.4 quintals an acre here (district figures).
Mandi price at last season's harvest (September–October 2026): about ₹10,193 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 October.
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 1.3 quintals an acre. That's a realistic target.