By Editor Sure, the dates are usually linked to the Middle East, but come to India, you’ll find true love for dates here as well. And for those who don’t know yet, dates are a true fruit, and if you have tasted one, then you know why people love them so much. But the thing is, we import dates in huge quantities because India isn’t one of the biggest producers of dates; still, we grow dates here in significant quantities as well. So, if you have always wondered, like where dates are grown or cultivated in India, then this is the post you should be reading from the very start till the very end. Here, specifically, we’re about to mention the Top 5 Dates Production States in India 2025.
1. Gujarat
Probably, if you have never looked into the dates’ production of India before, then it is highly likely you don’t even know how big a contribution Gujarat makes. Want us to tell you? That’s what we’re here for, but bear in mind, these are real figures. So, in total, Gujarat accounts for about 85% to 90% of the total dates being produced in India in recent times. And just so you know, the reason behind this overwhelming dominance is basically the Kutch area, which has turned into the core of date cultivation in India. Going into the specifics, see, Kutch with its date palm area of more than 18,000 hectares and the production of the annual yield of the date palm of more than 170,000 metric tonnes has established a very high standard that no other state is near to be able to reach at present.
2. Rajasthan
Rajasthan? Why? Or How? Well, many of you might already know that date farming was started out only back in 2007 in this very state, then how come it ranks as the top producer? Actually, no matter how unthinkable that sounds, but it is actually and factually correct. To be more specific, the districts of Jaisalmer, Barmer, and Bikaner, which are characterized by the desert, have become the most potential areas for date palm cultivation. You know like, starting with less than 800 tonnes in its first years and going all the way up to considerably higher figures in 2025, Rajasthan has demonstrated the power of good agricultural choices to turn around the most barren and arid lands.
3. Maharashtra
Maharashtra is hardly an old timer and not that big of a contributor, but when it comes to date farming in India, however, the state is making good progress step by step. Places like Aurangabad, Jalgaon, and Ahmednagar have the ideal kind of climate, you know, semi-dry for date palm trees to thrive. Though the total production of Maharashtra is less than that of Gujarat or Rajasthan, every year there is a noticeable progression, not a single doubt about that.
4. Tamil Nadu
Looking at Tamil Nadu’s name on this list, you might be feeling a little surprised and that’s because of the climate here, right? But bear in mind that the southern districts, in particular, Thoothukudi and Ramanathapuram, with their scorching and arid weather, are perfect for the cultivation of dates. And it is important to note here that those minor experimental plantations, which were established almost a decade ago, have now become mature commercial harvests. So that is pretty much what is working out in favor of Tamil Nadu in regards to date production.
5. Kerala
We get it, and it is obvious too that Kerala is probably the last place people would have thought of to grow date palms. But that is precisely or pretty much why the progress of this southern Indian state has caught people’s attention. Palakkad and Kasaragod districts are leading the way in introducing date palm cultivation in a region that is usually associated with rain and lush green forests. The output figures remain pretty low overall, but in general, the initial response looks good, particularly if the date palms are cultivated with other local crops like coconut.
Conclusion
If dates are what we’re talking about in India, there is no way you can just skip past these states’ names because they contribute so much to the overall production of dates in the country and keep the import of these fruits somewhat balanced.