RABI AND KHARIF CROPS

RABI AND KHARIF CROPS

Plants that are grown in large quantities in a particular area or region during a particular season are called crops.

 

KHARIF CROP

Crops grown from June to October are known as Kharif Crops. These crops depend largely on the monsoon rains. For example – Rice and Maize.

Kharif crops are usually sown with the beginning of the first rains in June, during the south-west monsoon season in parts of India and in Bangladesh. In other parts like Maharashtra, the west coast of India and in Pakistan that receive rains in June, kharif crops are sown in May, June and July.

 

After maturation these crops are harvested at the end of monsoon season(oct-Nov) These crops are dependent on the quantity of rain water as well its timing. Too much, too little or at the wrong time may lay waste the whole year’s efforts.

 

LIST OF KHARIF CROPS

CEREALS

Bajra, Jowar, Maize (corn), Millet, Rice (paddy), Soyabean

 

FRUITS

Muskmelon, Sugarcane, peach

SEED PLANTS

Arhar (tur), Black Gram (urad), Cotton, Green Gram (moong), Groundnut,  Linseed (flax), Moth bean, Mung bean, Sesame 

 

VEGETABLES

Bitter gourd, Bottle gourd, Brinjal, Chili, lady fingers, Sponge gourd, Tinda, Tomato, Turmeric.

 

 

RABI CROP

Crops grown from November to April are called Rabi crops. These crops do not depend on monsoon rains. The rabi crops are sown around mid-November, preferably after the monsoon rains are over, and harvesting begins in April/May (Spring: also known as the “winter crop”).

The crops are grown either with rainwater that has percolated into the ground, or using irrigation.

A good rain in winter spoils the rabi crops but is good for kharif crops.

Peas are harvested early, as they are ready early: Indian markets are flooded with green peas from January to March, peaking in February.

 

LIST OF RABI CROPS

 

CEREALS

Barley, gram, mustard, oat (Avena sativa), wheat (Triticum aestvium)

 

FRUITS

Almond, banana, ber, date, grape, grape fruit, guava, kinnow, lemon, lime

mandarin orange, mangoes, mulberries, orange

 

LEGUMES / LENTILS (DAL)

Chickpea, lobia, masoor, Urad bean

 

SEED PLANTS

Coriander, cumin, fenugreek, linseed, mustard, isabgol, sunflower

 

VEGETABLES

Bean, beetroot, brinjal, broccoli, cabbage, capsicum, carrot, cauliflowers, chickpea 

fenugreek, garlic, lady finger, lettuce, pea, onion, potato, radish, spinach, sweet potato, tomato, turnip. 

 

Many crops are cultivated in both kharif and rabi seasons. The agriculture crops produced in India are seasonal in nature and highly dependent on these two monsoons.