Rabi Crops — Wheat, Mustard & Pulses
Rabi season crops of UP including wheat, mustard, gram, pea, potato, barley, and lentil with production data and MSP for UPSSSC AGTA exam.
Introduction
Rabi crops are sown after the withdrawal of the monsoon (October-November) and harvested in March-April. This is UP's most productive agricultural season, as wheat — the state's most important crop — is a rabi crop. Rabi farming in UP benefits from canal irrigation, tube wells, and cool winter temperatures.
Rabi Season Calendar
| Stage | Timing |
|---|---|
| Sowing | October-November |
| Growing period | December-February (cool, dry) |
| Harvesting | March-April |
| Irrigation source | Canal, tube well, wells (not rain-dependent) |
Rabi crops require cool growing conditions and bright sunshine during grain filling, which UP's winter provides perfectly.
Wheat (Gehun) — UP's Crown Crop
Wheat is the single most important crop in Uttar Pradesh and the state's largest contribution to India's food security.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| National rank | #1 — largest wheat producing state in India |
| Production | ~35 million MT (2023-24) |
| Area | ~95-100 lakh hectares |
| Yield | ~35-38 quintals/hectare |
| National share | ~30-33% of India's wheat |
Major Wheat-Growing Districts
The western UP wheat belt is the most productive, with the highest per-hectare yields in the country.
| Region | Key Districts |
|---|---|
| Western UP (highest yield) | Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Bulandshahr, Aligarh, Agra, Mathura |
| Central UP | Kanpur, Lucknow, Hardoi, Unnao |
| Eastern UP | Varanasi, Azamgarh, Jaunpur (lower yields) |
| Bundelkhand | Jhansi, Banda (rainfed, low productivity) |
Important Wheat Varieties
| Variety | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| HD-2967 | Most widely grown variety in India; developed by IARI |
| PBW-343 | Former dominant variety; replaced by HD-2967 |
| UP-2338 | Developed specifically for UP; late-sown tolerance |
| HD-3086 | High yielding, rust-resistant |
| DBW-187 | Recent release, excellent grain quality |
HD-2967 alone covers the largest area of any single wheat variety in the world.
Mustard (Sarson) — UP's Oilseed Powerhouse
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| National rank | #2 in mustard production (after Rajasthan) |
| Key districts | Aligarh, Agra, Etah, Mainpuri, Mathura, Firozabad |
| Sowing | October-November |
| Harvest | February-March |
| Oil content | 38-42% |
The Aligarh-Agra-Etah triangle is UP's mustard belt. Mustard oil is the primary cooking medium in UP and is also used for "sarson ka saag" preparation.
Mustard Varieties
- Pusa Bold, Varuna (T-59), Kranti — widely cultivated
- GM mustard (DMH-11) is under regulatory review but not yet commercially released
Gram / Chana (Chickpea)
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| National rank | Among top 5 states |
| Key districts | Bundelkhand: Hamirpur, Banda, Jhansi, Lalitpur |
| Other growing areas | Kanpur Dehat, Fatehpur, Prayagraj |
| Type | Desi chana (brown, smaller) — dominant in UP |
| Uses | Dal, besan (gram flour), chana sattu |
Gram is the most important rabi pulse in UP and is a lifeline crop for Bundelkhand's dryland farmers.
Pea (Matar)
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| National rank | UP is the top pea-producing state |
| Key districts | Jhansi, Varanasi, Lucknow, Kanpur, Bareilly |
| Season | Early rabi (October sowing, January-February harvest) |
| Types | Green pea (vegetable) and dry pea (pulse) |
UP leads India in both fresh green pea and dried pea production.
Potato (Aloo) — A Rabi Vegetable Crop
Though technically a vegetable, potato is grown at scale as a rabi field crop in UP.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| National rank | #1 — UP produces ~35% of India's potato |
| Production | ~18-20 million MT |
| Key districts | Agra, Farrukhabad, Kannauj, Firozabad, Etawah |
| Cold storage | UP has the largest cold storage network in India (~2,500 units) |
| Planting | October-November |
| Harvest | February-March |
The Agra-Farrukhabad-Kannauj belt is the potato capital of India. The extensive cold storage network in UP (especially around Agra) is the largest in the country.
Other Important Rabi Crops
| Crop | Key Feature | Districts |
|---|---|---|
| Lentil (Masoor) | Major rabi pulse; Bundelkhand belt | Hamirpur, Banda, Prayagraj |
| Barley (Jau) | UP was historically #1; declining area | Agra, Aligarh, Mathura |
| Linseed (Alsi) | Oilseed; small but significant | Bundelkhand, eastern UP |
| Coriander | Spice crop; expanding area | Bundelkhand, south-western UP |
| Sunflower | Minor oilseed, irrigated areas | Scattered cultivation |
MSP and Procurement
The Minimum Support Price (MSP) system is critical for UP's rabi farmers, especially for wheat and mustard.
| Crop | MSP 2024-25 (₹/quintal) | Procurement Agency |
|---|---|---|
| Wheat | ₹2,275 | FCI, UP State Warehousing |
| Mustard | ₹5,650 | NAFED |
| Gram | ₹5,440 | NAFED |
| Lentil | ₹6,425 | NAFED |
| Barley | ₹1,850 | — |
UP is among the top 3 states in wheat procurement by FCI every year, contributing significantly to the national food buffer.
Key Takeaways
- UP is #1 in wheat production (~35 million MT, ~30-33% of India) — western UP leads
- HD-2967 is the most widely sown wheat variety; UP-2338 is developed for late sowing
- UP ranks #2 in mustard (Aligarh-Agra-Etah belt) and #1 in potato (35% of India)
- Gram (chickpea) is the primary rabi pulse — crucial for Bundelkhand's dryland farming
- UP has India's largest cold storage network (~2,500 units) for potato storage
Summary Cheat Sheet
| Crop | UP Rank | Key Districts | Key Variety/Fact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheat | 1st | Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Bulandshahr | HD-2967 |
| Mustard | 2nd | Aligarh, Agra, Etah | Pusa Bold, Varuna |
| Potato | 1st | Agra, Farrukhabad, Kannauj | Largest cold storage network |
| Gram | Top 5 | Hamirpur, Banda, Jhansi | Bundelkhand lifeline crop |
| Pea | 1st | Jhansi, Varanasi, Lucknow | Green + dry pea leader |
| Lentil | Top 5 | Hamirpur, Banda, Prayagraj | Bundelkhand pulse belt |
| Wheat MSP 2024-25 | — | — | ₹2,275/quintal |
Lesson Doubts
Ask questions, get expert answers