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Rajasthan's economy is mainly agriculture-based. About 80 percent of the population lives in rural areas and is dependent on farming. Cereal crops such as bajra, juar, wheat and barley cover the largest cultivated area.The Indira Gandhi or Rajasthan canal provides irrigation to the arid western districts of Bikaner and Jaisalmer. Ganganagar district is irrigated with water from the Ganga canal in the Punjab. Irrigation projects have also developed on the Chambal and Luni rivers. The western region grows predominantly kharif (monsoon) crops,while the eastern belt, which has better rains and soil, grows both kharif and rabi (winter) crops. The latter is grown under rain-fed farming conditions or in irrigated areas.

Bajra(Pennisetum typhoideum) is consumed by the rural poor, particularly the nomads. Rajasthan is the largest producer of bajra in India.

Juar(Sorghum vulgare) is an important pulse crop during the monsoon.

Gram(Cicer arietinum) (right) is another major pulse crop grown in rabi.


Wheat(Triticum sp.) is cultivated on irrigated land.

Barley(Hordeum vulgare) is the second largest crop in Rajasthan.

Maize(Zea mays) is a stable crop for the Bhil tribes in the Aravallis. In northern Rajasthan, maize is a delicacy eaten with butter and the green leaf of the mustard plant.


Groundnut is a major kharif oilseed crop.

Sesame Rajasthan provides the second highest quantum of sesame (Sesamum indicum) in India. One of its common uses is as an ingredient in sweetmeats.

Cotton(Gossypium sp.) used to make the famous Rajasthani textiles, is a major cash crop.




Irrigation by electric pumps

Electricity is supplied to about 80 percent of the villages, energizing pumps and tube wells.

Irrigation by Persian Wheel

The Persian wheel method is popular in the central and eastern region where the ground water table is comparatively high. One Persian wheel can irrigate up to one hectare of land.