Not all crops grow in the same season. Different crops have specific requirements and suitable climatic conditions. Based on climatic conditions, crops in India are broadly divided into two categories:
- Kharif Crops
- Rabi Crops
Let’s take a detailed look at the Kharif crops and rabi crops, their examples, and the difference between the two.
Kharif Crops
Kharif crops, also called monsoon crops or autumn crops, are domesticated plants that are grown and harvested in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh during the Indian subcontinent’s monsoon season, which lasts from June to November depending on the area.
Monsoon rains can begin as early as May in some parts of the Indian subcontinent and harvest generally occurs from the third week of September to October.
Rice, Maize, and cotton are some of examples of Kharif crops in India. Unlike rabi crops, kharif crops need good rainfall. The yield of these plants depends on the time and amount of rainwater.
Examples of Kharif Crops
The following are some of the examples of Kharif crops: Rice, Maize, Sorghum, Bajra, Soybean, and Cotton.
- Cereals: Jowar, Maize, Millet, Rice, Soybean.
- Fruits: Muskmelon, Sugarcane, Watermelon, Orange
- Vegetables: BitterGourd, Bottle Gourd, Brinjal, French Beans, Tinda, Turmeric
Rabi Crops
Rabi crops or rabi harvest, also known as winter crops, are agricultural crops that are sown in winter and harvested in the spring. The rabi crops are sown around mid-November, preferably after the monsoon rains are over, and harvesting begins in April/May.
The crops are grown either with rainwater that has percolated into the ground or using irrigation. Good rain in winter spoils the rabi crops but is good for Kharif crops.
Examples of Rabi Crops
The following are some of the examples of Rabi crops: wheat, barley, oats, gram, mustard, and linseed.
- Cereals: Barley, Gram, Rapeseed, Mustard, Oat, Bajra.
- Fruits: Banana, Lady Fingers, Tomato, Grapefruit, Mangoes, Lemons.
- Vegetables: Cabbage, Capsicum, Onion, Potato, Spinach, Tomato.
Difference Between Rabi and Kharif Crops
Following are the important differences between Rabi and Kharif crops:
| Difference | Kharif Crop | Rabi Crop |
| Sowing Season | Kharif crops are sown in early May – usually at the start of the first monsoon rains. | Rabi crops are sown around mid-November – preferably after the monsoon rains. |
| Also known as | Monsoon crops/ Autumn Crops. | Winter crops. |
| Rainfall Pattern | Crops will be drastically affected – too little or too much rain can ruin efforts. | Generally unaffected (however, rain in winter can potentially spoil the Rabi crop). |
| Essential Factors | Hot weather and plenty of water are required to grow. | Requires a warm climate for seed germination and a cold climate for growth. |
| Harvesting Months | Usually between October and November (Please note that the exact harvest time varies depending on the crop and region). | Usually between April and May (please note that the exact harvest time varies by crop and region). |
| Examples | Barley, gram, peas, and wheat are examples of rabi crops. | Barley, gram, peas, and wheat are examples of rabi crops. |
| Term Origins/ Etymology | “Kharif” translates to “autumn season” in Arabic. | “Rabi” translates to “spring season” in Arabic. |
There were some differences between kharif and rabi crops. Kharif and Rabi’s crops are mainly used to indicate the right time to sow and grow a particular crop.
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Examples of Kharif Crops
Following are some examples of Kharif crops:
1. Rice.
Rice is a kharif crop that requires high temperatures (above 25°C) and high humidity. It requires an annual rainfall of over 100 cm. In areas with less rainfall, it grows with the help of irrigation. Rice is grown in the plains of north and northeast India, in coastal areas, and in the delta regions. It is the staple food for most people in Asia.
2. Maize
Maize is another important cereal crop in India. It requires a minimum of 50 cm to 75 cm rainfall and a temperature between 21° to 27°C. Karnataka is the largest maize-producing state in India. Dent corn, flint corn, pod corn, popcorn, flour corn, and sweet corn are the six main varieties of maize.
Sweet corn varieties are grown for human consumption as kernels, while field corn varieties are used for animal feed, various corn-based human food uses (such as grinding into cornmeal or masa, corn in oil press, and in the fermentation and distillation of alcoholic beverages such as bourbon whiskey), and chemical feedstocks. Ethanol and other biofuels are also made from corn.
3. Bajra
Bajra Pennisetum glaucum is the traditional Hindi name of the crop – also known as pearl millet. It is also known as dukn, cumbu, gero, sanio, kambu, babala, or bulrush millet.
The grain is mainly grown in Africa and India, where it is a major source of nutrition. However, it is also grown and consumed in many other places around the world.
Bajra grows very well in areas with a dry and hot climate and is a drought-tolerant crop with a low annual rainfall of 40 cm to 60 cm. The ideal temperature range for bajra cultivation is 20°C to 30°C. Moist weather is beneficial during its vegetative growth.
Bajra is grown as a Kharif crop in northern India and as a summer crop in some of the southern regions receiving irrigation. Bajra is also grown as a winter crop in some regions of India.
4. Cotton
Cotton is a kharif crop in major parts of the Country ie. Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and parts of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
Cotton is grown in a variety of soils, ranging from well-drained deep alluvial soils in the north to black loamy soils of varying depths in the central region and black and mixed black and red soils in the southern region.
A minimum temperature of 15oC is required for better germination under field conditions. The optimum temperature for vegetative growth is 21-27oC and it can tolerate temperatures up to 43oC but temperatures below 21oC are harmful to the crop.
Examples of Rabi crops:
Some of the common examples of major rabi crops grown in India are wheat, mustard, barley, green peas, sunflower, coriander, cumin, etc.
1. Wheat
A major part of India’s agricultural income comes from the production of wheat. It is the second-largest producer of this crop in the world.
Since wheat requires low temperatures to grow, winter is the ideal season for the cultivation of this rabi crop. The ideal temperature range should be around 14 to 18 degrees Celsius, and rainfall should be 50 cm to 90 cm. The crop is harvested in spring when the temperature is slightly warmer.
In India, Uttar Pradesh is the largest wheat-producing state followed by Punjab and Haryana.
2. Mustard
Mustard is another Rabi crop, which is widely used for cooking in Indian households. It requires a dry and cool climate (sub-tropical climate) to grow, and the ideal temperature range is between 10 °C to 25°C.
With 60% of the total production in the country, Uttar Pradesh is again the largest mustard-producing state in the country, followed by Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.