Which Crops Should You Plant If Your Region Gets Less Than 500mm of Rainfall?

Blog by Aarohi Gaikwad | June2026 

Introduction 

Around 128 districts across India are in less than 500mm rainfall per year which includes vast areas of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, parts of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. A special challenge for farmers in these areas is selecting crops that will be able to grow and yield in a climate characterized by inadequate water supplies. This blog is a practical tips-and-tricks for just that — the best crops for low rainfall areas based on Indian agricultural research and government recommendations. 

Understanding Dryland Farming in India 

The term dryland farming is used to describe cultivation of crops in regions with less than 500mm of annual rainfall that does not have a source of outside water irrigation. Dryland agriculture, one of the most important but under-resourced sectors of Indian agriculture, accounts for more than 60% of the country's net sown area, according to the ICAR-Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture (ICAR-CRIDA) in Hyderabad, which is the nodal institute of the Government of India for research in dryland agriculture. For the farmers these are areas where crop selection is the most critical decision to be made. In a low rainfall area the wrong crop means almost guaranteed crop failure. The right crop, in the right place, with the right rainfall distribution, temperature, etc., can provide a certain yield and a reasonable income even during the subnormal monsoons. 

Best Crops for Regions with Less Than 500mm Rainfall 

The following crops are recommended by ICAR-CRIDA and have been proven in field trials across India’s dryland zones. They are grouped by type — cereals, pulses, and oilseeds — and include the minimum rainfall they can survive on: 

Cereals: Millets Are the Foundation of Dryland Farming 

Pearl millet (Bajra) is the most drought-tolerant cereal of India, which can withstand as little as 150-200mm rainfall. It is the mainstay of dryland agriculture in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Haryana, and is a source of grain for human and livestock feed. ICAR has taken the development of new high yielding drought-tolerant hybrid varieties to achieve yields of 2–3 tonnes per hectare in low rainfall areas, which is one of the most profitable dryland choices for small farmers. Sorghum (Jowar) is also important along with finger millet (Ragi) for farmers of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Both crops are very nutritious, have a very good price in the local market and have long cultivation history in low rainfall areas. The studies conducted by ICAR-CRIDA have shown that the sorghum crop yield can be improved by 18-22% due to timely sowing of sorghum within first 2 weeks of onset of reliable rainfall. 

Pulses: High Value and Soil-Enriching 

Pulses are one of the most valuable crops to grow in a dryland farming system as they capture nitrogen in the soil and fertilizer needs are less for the following season. Chickpea (gram) being the most important pulse crop of India, grows well in the rabi season under the condition of 250–450mm of rainfall and is suitable for cultivation in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra. As India is the largest chickpea producer and consumer, there is assured demand in the market at a good price. Pigeon pea (Arhar/Tur) is also very well adapted to dryland farming, having deep tap roots that can tap into subsoil moisture even in dry conditions. It is a regular crop in dryland agriculture in Maharashtra and Karnataka, and fetches a steady price in the dal markets of India. ICAR-CRIDA strongly recommends pigeon pea as inter cropping with sorghum to make the land use efficient and mitigate risk in case of uncertainty of rainfal 

Government Support for Dryland Farmers 

The Government of India supports dryland and rainfed farming through several dedicated programmes. The National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA), under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, focuses specifically on enhancing agricultural productivity in rainfed areas through improved soil health, water conservation, and drought-tolerant crop varieties. For the official NMSA details: 

ICAR-CRIDA, the Government of India’s nodal research institute for dryland agriculture under the Ministry of Agriculture, provides location-specific crop recommendations, seed varieties, and agronomic guidance for all major dryland zones across India. Farmers can access advisories and technical resources at: 

The PMKSY Per Drop More Crop scheme provides subsidies of 55% for small and marginal farmers on micro-irrigation systems — including drip irrigation — that can significantly improve crop performance even in low-rainfall zones by maximising the efficiency of every drop of available water. For official scheme details:

 Conclusion 

Not enough rainfall isn't a negative, it's a different opportunity. Where crops that require water such as rice and sugarcane cannot survive, millets, pulses and oilseeds are ideally suited to grow. Using appropriate variety, timely sowing and soil moisture management according to ICAR-CRIDA recommendation, the dryland farmers of India can make their farms productive, profitable and climate smart. The secret is in the management of the rain water and not fighting it. 

#DrylandFarming  #LowRainfallCrops  #IndianAgriculture  #Millets  #Pulses  #ICARCRIDA  #NMSA  #PMKSY  #DroughtTolerant  #RainfedFarming