Madhya Pradesh: Climate and soils

Madhya Pradesh has three major seasons: summer, monsoon and winter. Rainfall is higher in the south and south-east and lower in the north-west, and on the basis of its diverse climate the state is divided into 11 climatic zones and 5 crop areas.

Summer (March-June)

• During summer, the temperature in the entire state ranges above 29.4°C.
• In general, the eastern parts of the state are hotter than the western parts.
• Gwalior, Morena and Datia record temperatures of over 42°C in May.
• Humidity is relatively very low, and the region usually has frequent mild dust storms.

Monsoon (June-September)

• The south-west monsoon usually breaks out in mid June.
• The entire state receives a major share of its rainfall between June and September.
• The south and south-east regions tend to get higher rainfall; the north-west gets less.
• Mandla, Balaghat, Sidhi, Jabalpur and other extreme eastern parts receive more than 150 cm of rainfall.
• The districts of western Madhya Pradesh receive less than 80 cm.

Winter (from November)

• The winter season starts in November.
• Temperatures are lower in the northern parts than in the southern parts.
• In January, the daily maximum temperature in most of the northern part stays between 15 and 18°C.
• The climate is generally dry and pleasant with a clear sky.

Climatic zones and land

• Based on its diverse climate, the state is divided into 11 climatic zones and 5 crop areas (Department of Farmers Welfare and Agricultural Development).
• Madhya Pradesh is the second largest State in the country by geographical area: 307.56 lakh hectares (per the agriculture department), or 9.38 percent of India's land area.
• About 155.45 lakh hectares of this is cultivable.
• The total irrigated area from government and private sources is about 181.47 lakh hectares, and the cropping intensity is 193.68 percent.

Forests linked to climate

• Over 30% of the state's total area is covered by forest.
• The eastern districts of Balaghat, Mandla, Shahdol and Sidhi, which are also among the higher-rainfall areas, have dense forest cover.
• Trees found abundantly include Teak, Sal, Bamboo and Tendu.

Seasons and crops

• As per the final estimates for 2024-25, Kharif crops are grown on about 144.04 lakh hectares and Rabi crops on about 136.50 lakh hectares.
• Soybean is the most extensively sown Kharif crop, at present on about 58.72 lakh hectares. Other Kharif crops include paddy, maize, arhar, moong, urad, jowar, bajra, kodo, kutki, sesame and cotton.
• Rabi crops include wheat, gram, pea, lentil, mustard, sugarcane and linseed; wheat occupies the largest area.
• The state portal lists wheat, soybean and jowar as the main crops; paddy and coarse millets are also sown in large parts.
• Important cash crops are cotton, sugarcane and oil seeds.
• Mandsaur is the largest opium producing district in the country.