Dates, or khajoor, are not grown everywhere in India like mango, banana or guava. Date palm needs hot, dry weather, low humidity during fruit ripening, good drainage and careful irrigation. This is why India’s date production is mainly concentrated in arid and semi-arid belts, especially in western India.
India still imports a large quantity of dates, while domestic production is limited to a few states. Gujarat is the clear leader, and the other states are ranked based on active date-palm cultivation, production presence, suitable climate, government support and future commercial potential.
Now let’s check out the top 5 dates producing states in India in 2026.
1. Gujarat
Gujarat is the largest dates producing state in India in 2026.
The state’s date palm economy is mainly centred in the Kutch region. Kutch has the perfect dry and hot climate that date palms need. Areas such as Mundra, Mandvi, Anjar, Bhachau, Rapar, Bhuj and Nakhatrana are strongly linked with date cultivation. The region is famous for both Desi and Barhi-type dates.
Kutch is the real heart of India’s date production. Recent reports mention that Kutch has around 20 lakh date trees spread over nearly 19,000 hectares, with annual production averaging about 1.8 lakh metric tonnes. This makes Gujarat far ahead of every other Indian state in date production.
Gujarat’s date farmers are also facing new climate challenges. Earlier, dates would ripen before the monsoon, but now early rains are damaging the crop in many areas. Because of this, researchers and farmers are focusing on early-maturing and rain-resistant varieties. A new Kutchi date variety called Sona-100 has gained attention because it can tolerate rain better and gives larger, sweeter fruits.
Gujarat deserves the first position because it has the biggest area, strongest production, research support, local varieties, farmer experience and a clear national identity in dates.
2. Rajasthan
Rajasthan ranks second among India’s dates producing states.
The state has suitable desert and semi-desert conditions for date palm cultivation. Date farming in Rajasthan is mainly concentrated in western districts such as Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Barmer and Jodhpur. These areas have hot weather, low humidity and sandy soils, which are useful for date palm growth.
Rajasthan’s modern date palm journey started in 2007, when imported tissue-culture plants were introduced under a subsidised scheme. The state grows varieties such as Barhee, Khuneji, Khalas, Medjool, Khadravi, Jamli and Sagai. Its first major harvest came in 2015–16, when the state produced nearly 800 tonnes of dates.
The state is also trying to develop Indian date palm varieties. In 2025, three date palm varieties — ST-1, ST-2 and ST-3 — developed in Rajasthan received patents. These varieties were reported to grow even in saline water and produce around 80 to 150 kg dates per plant annually.
Rajasthan deserves second position because it has the right desert climate, active date-palm farms, varietal research and strong future potential in western districts.
3. Maharashtra
Maharashtra stands third among India’s active date palm growing states.
The state is not as dominant as Gujarat or Rajasthan, but date palm cultivation has been introduced in suitable dry belts. Maharashtra has several semi-arid regions where farmers are experimenting with high-value fruit crops under irrigation. Date palm can be useful in such areas because it tolerates heat and can give good returns once the trees reach full bearing age.
The important potential regions include parts of Marathwada, Vidarbha and dry belts of western Maharashtra. Districts such as Jalna, Beed, Solapur, Ahmednagar, Aurangabad/Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and parts of Nashik and Pune region have conditions where date palm can be grown with proper irrigation and technical guidance.
India’s active date-palm production is reported in five states: Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Among these, Gujarat is the top producer, while Maharashtra is one of the states where production has started on a smaller scale.
Maharashtra deserves third position because it has dryland horticulture potential, irrigation-based fruit farming experience and a strong market network. If farmers get good tissue-culture plants, training and buy-back support, the state can expand date cultivation further.
4. Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu ranks fourth among the top dates producing and date-growing states in India.
The state has hot regions where date palm can grow, especially in dry belts with controlled irrigation. Date cultivation in Tamil Nadu is limited, but it has been introduced as part of high-value horticulture in suitable pockets. The crop needs careful management because humidity and rain during fruit maturity can affect quality.
Possible date-growing regions include parts of Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, Virudhunagar, Madurai and other dry southern belts. These regions already have experience with hardy crops, dryland horticulture and irrigated fruit farming.
Tamil Nadu’s strength is its horticulture knowledge and market access. The state has strong fruit markets, processing units and a good transport network. Date palm is not a major fruit crop here yet, but it can work in selected areas where farmers manage water, flowering, bunch protection and harvest timing properly.
Tamil Nadu is included because it is among the Indian states where date palm production has started, though at a smaller level compared with Gujarat and Rajasthan.
5. Kerala
Kerala completes the list of the top five dates producing and date-growing states in India in 2026.
Kerala is not naturally the best region for date palm because the crop prefers dry weather, while Kerala has a humid tropical climate and heavy rainfall. Still, date palm cultivation has been attempted in the state in selected areas, especially by farmers interested in high-value and exotic fruit crops.
The state’s date production is very small compared with Gujarat and Rajasthan. Its importance is more experimental and niche. Some farmers grow date palms under managed conditions, but large-scale commercial production is difficult because rain and humidity can damage fruit quality during ripening.
Kerala’s advantage is its strong interest in diversified horticulture. Farmers in the state are increasingly trying premium and exotic fruits, supported by local demand and better market prices. This gives date palm a limited but interesting place in the state’s fruit economy.
Kerala is included in the list because it is among the few Indian states where date palm production has started, even though its scale remains small.
Final Words
The top five dates producing states in India in 2026 are Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Gujarat is the clear leader because of Kutch’s massive date palm belt, while Rajasthan is the strongest desert-state competitor.
India’s domestic date production is still small compared with imports, but better varieties, tissue-culture plants, drip irrigation and climate-resilient farming can make date palm a more valuable fruit crop in dry regions.
