What is zakat on crops and harvests?

What the Quran and Sunnah say

Zakat isn't only about money in the bank. The Quran tells farmers to give a share of what the land produces on the day it is gathered:

The Prophet ﷺ explained the rate: on land watered by rain or springs, a tenth; on land watered by irrigation, half a tenth (Sahih al-Bukhari 1483). He also said there is no zakat on less than five awsuq of produce (Sahih al-Bukhari 1405).

How much and when

• 10% if the crop grew on rain, rivers or natural springs, with no real cost for water.
• 5% if you paid for the water, such as pumps, sprinklers or bought irrigation.
• About 7.5% if the field got roughly half and half, as many scholars explain.
• Minimum (nisab): five awsuq, usually estimated at around 600–650 kg of grain or dried fruit.
• Timing: at harvest. There is no one-year waiting period, because the crop itself is the growth.

Which crops count?

Scholars differ here. The Hanafi school applies ushr to almost everything the land grows for profit, including fruit and vegetables. The Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali schools mostly limit it to staple foods that can be stored and measured, such as wheat, barley, rice, dates and raisins (the Hanbalis add other measured, storable crops). Either way, if you sell the harvest and the money sits with you for a year, it joins your normal savings for zakat. See How do I calculate my zakat?

What about my back garden?

A few tomatoes, apples or herbs from your garden almost never reach the nisab, so there's normally nothing to pay. Giving some away to neighbours is still a lovely sadaqah. If you run a farm or an allotment business, though, the produce is a real income source and ushr applies. For other business assets, see Do I pay zakat on my business?

Many scholars say you can deduct the direct costs of growing the crop before working out the share, while others say to pay from the whole harvest. If you farm commercially, ask a local scholar which method to follow.