About Niger Seed
Niger seed is a tribal-area oilseed of India's eastern and central highlands. Besides its oil, it is exported as birdseed to the USA and Europe.
Where Niger Seed Is Grown
The main growing states and districts are listed below. Tap a state for its markets, season, agencies and buyers.
| State | Main districts | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Odisha | Koraput, Rayagada, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur | The leading niger state. |
| Madhya Pradesh | Chhindwara, Dindori, Mandla, Betul | Tribal-area niger. |
| Chhattisgarh | Bastar, Kanker, Kondagaon | Niger in Bastar. |
| Jharkhand | Ranchi, Gumla, Lohardaga | Upland niger. |
| Maharashtra | Nashik, Thane, Pune (tribal belts) | Karale niger. |
How It Is Grown
Niger is sown late in the kharif season on hill slopes and poor soils and needs almost no inputs.
Season
Harvest November–January.
Uses and Buyers
Birdseed exporters, local oil mills and households.
Quality and Price
Export seed must be clean, free of weed seeds and sterilised for some markets.
Government Buying
MSP; procurement when prices fall. Procurement is organised by central and state agencies when market prices fall below the support price.
Companies, Markets and Bodies
Related: All crops · All states
Names are listed for reference only and do not imply endorsement or affiliation. The About and Explore buttons open Google in a new tab; results there are generated by Google and third parties, not by this site. Prices, MSP, export rules and schemes change often. Nothing here is financial, legal or purchasing advice. Full disclaimer