Agricultural Production: Structure, Crops, and Challenges

2.1 Agricultural Contribution to GSVA

Agriculture and allied sectors in Rajasthan contribute 26.92% of GSVA (2024-25, current prices), substantially above the national average of approximately 17%. This reflects the state's agrarian character, where 62% of the workforce depends on agriculture and allied activities.

The Gross State Value Added (GSVA) from agriculture grew to ₹4.23 lakh crore (current prices, 2024-25). Allied sectors — livestock, forestry, fishing — add further value, with livestock GVA alone reaching ₹1.98 lakh crore (2024-25, current prices), exceeding the crop sector GVA for the first time — a structural milestone.

Source: Rajasthan Economic Review 2025-26, Chapter 2; DES Rajasthan

2.2 Land and Cropping Pattern

Rajasthan is India's largest state by area (3,42,239 sq km). Despite 60% arid/semi-arid land, agriculture covers approximately 2.04 crore hectares of gross cropped area. Key features of the cropping pattern:

• Kharif crops (sown June-July, harvested October-November): bajra (pearl millet), jowar (sorghum), maize, groundnut, sesame, moong, moth, guar. Bajra alone accounts for the largest share of kharif area.
• Rabi crops (sown October-November, harvested March-April): wheat, mustard (sarson — Rajasthan is #1 mustard-producing state), gram (chana), barley, fenugreek (methi).
• Zaid crops: watermelon, muskmelon, cucumber — limited to irrigated belts of Ganganagar and Hanumangarh.

Crop-wise highlights:

Crop	Rajasthan's National Rank	Key Production Districts
Mustard/Rapeseed	#1	Alwar, Bharatpur, Jaipur, Sikar
Bajra (Pearl Millet)	#1	Barmer, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Nagaur
Guar (Cluster Bean)	#1	Barmer, Jodhpur, Nagaur, Sikar
Cumin (Jeera)	#1	Barmer, Jalore, Jodhpur, Pali
Fenugreek (Methi)	#1	Nagaur, Sikar, Ajmer
Wheat	Top 5	Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, Kota, Bundi
Gram (Chana)	Top 5	Barmer, Jalore, Nagaur, Bikaner

Source: Rajasthan Agricultural Statistics 2024-25; Rajasthan Economic Review 2025-26, Chapter 2

Rajasthan is appropriately called the "Millet Bowl of India" — the state is the country's leading producer of bajra, jowar, and ragi. The Rajasthan Millets Promotion Mission, with an annual allocation of ₹40 crore, promotes millet cultivation, value-addition, processing units, and inclusion of millets in hotel menus and institutional catering. This aligns with the UN International Year of Millets 2023 and India's global push as a millet champion nation.

2.3 Structural Challenges in Agricultural Production

Fragmentation of landholdings: Average land holding size in Rajasthan is approximately 2.73 hectare, but 78% of farmers are small and marginal farmers (with less than 2 hectares). Fragmented holdings impede mechanization and reduce productivity.

Dependence on monsoon: Despite irrigation expansion, 53% of the gross cropped area remains rain-fed. The southwest monsoon's variability — Rajasthan receives 100 mm to 900 mm annual rainfall, with severe west-east gradient — creates inter-year output volatility. Droughts are frequent in western districts.

Low productivity: Rajasthan's average agricultural productivity (yield per hectare) for most crops is below the national average due to arid soil, low organic matter, and inadequate irrigation coverage. Wheat yield in Rajasthan averages ~3.1 MT/ha vs. Punjab's ~5.0 MT/ha.

Soil health degradation: Wind and water erosion affects 59.58 lakh hectares of land. Salinization is a secondary challenge in irrigated command areas of IGNP and Chambal. Soil Health Card Scheme (SHC) has covered over 2 crore soil samples in Rajasthan.

Digital transformation — Raj-AIMS: The Rajasthan AI-powered Agriculture Information and Monitoring System (Raj-AIMS) uses satellite-based real-time surveillance for crop health, soil moisture, and weather patterns. It integrates with the carbon credit pilot project to incentivize climate-positive farming. Complemented by Mission Raj GIFT (GI tagging) and Custom Hiring Centres (1,000 new centres).

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