Economy of Dharmapuri district is mainly agrarian in nature. Almost seventy percent of the workforce is dependent on agriculture and allied activities. The district is one among most backward and drought prone area in the Tamil Nadu state. The climate of this district is generally warm. The hottest period of the year in this district is generally from the months of March to May, the highest temperature here goes up to about thirty eight degree centigrade in the month of April. The climate gets cooler in the month of December and continuous to be so till February, getting to a low of about seventeen degree centigrade in the month of January. The average annual rainfall in this district is 895.56 mm. The type of soil in this district ranges from black to mixed loam. Red sandy soils are seen in the Harur Taluk while Black and loam soil are there in the Dharmapuri Taluk. Generally the soil is low in Nitrogen and Phosphate content with no marked variation between Taluks.

The district of Dharmapuri forms a major horticultural belt in Tamil Nadu. As the area is prone to the devastating effects of draught, it has become essential to switch over to cultivation of drought tolerant perennial fruit crops in this district. Mango is the main horticulture crop of this district. It has the highest area under the fruit crops. The district accounts for about one-third area under mango and almost one-half of the mango yield in the state. Palacode is the main area where tomato is cultivated and Chilli is cultivated mainly at Pennagaram.

Since Dharmapuri is an inland district, fishing is restricted to inland waters. A large variety of fishes are available which include katla, rogu, mirgal, common and corp. This district of the state of Tamil Nadu in India is endowed with sizeable reserves of granite. Top quality black granite is available in Harur, Pennagaram and Palacode blocks. Quartz is there at Kendiganapalli Village of Pennagaram taluk, A.Velampatti of Harur taluk and Pethathampatti of Pappireddipatti taluk. Malibdinum is another high quality mineral available at Harur in Dharmapuri district, which is identified as a good conductor.