Niger Seed
Sow in June, harvest around September
This season's sowing time (June–July) is over.
Grown on 619 acres here. Priced from mandis across India.
₹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 9/10
Why, and how to make it work Hide details
Water
Rain is enough, even in a dry year.
Needs about 350 mm of water here in its growing months. Rain gives about 1,300 mm it can use in a normal year, and 1,060 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 32 °C / 25 °C (outside its best range)
- Jul 32 °C / 25 °C (outside its best range)
- Aug 33 °C / 26 °C (outside its best range)
- Sep 32 °C / 25 °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.
- Many fields here are short of boron, which it needs a lot.
Likes pH 5.5–6.5.
How the soil score worksMoney
Yield: about 2.3 quintals an acre here in this season (district figures).
Mandi price at last season's harvest (September–October 2026): about ₹10,750 a quintal across India's mandis.
Minimum support price: ₹10,052 a quintal (2026-27), if you sell to government procurement.
- ₹5,600 2021
- ₹6,380 2022
- ₹8,000 2023
- ₹8,000 2024
- ₹8,130 2025
Prices are usually best in August.
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 2.3 quintals an acre. That's a realistic target.
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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.