Kharif crops are the summer/monsoon crops of India. They are sown at the beginning of the monsoon season (June–July) and harvested in autumn (September–October). The word 'Kharif' comes from the Arabic word for autumn. These crops require heavy rainfall or irrigation.
Kharif crops: sown June–July, harvested September–October.
'Kharif' = Arabic for autumn.
Major Kharif crops: rice, maize, cotton, jute, sugarcane, groundnut, soybean, bajra, jowar.
Rice: most important Kharif crop; requires standing water.
Jute: 'Golden fibre'; West Bengal grows >80% of India's jute.
Cotton: 'White gold'; major Kharif cash crop.
Millets (bajra, jowar, ragi) are drought-resistant Kharif crops.
Kharif Season: • Sowing: June–July (with onset of southwest monsoon) • Harvesting: September–October • Also called: Monsoon crops / Summer crops
Main Kharif Crops:
Top Kharif Crop States: • Rice: West Bengal, UP, Punjab, AP, Odisha • Cotton: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana • Jute: West Bengal (>80% of India's jute) • Groundnut: Gujarat, Rajasthan, AP • Sugarcane: UP, Maharashtra, Karnataka
Conditions Required for Kharif Crops: • High rainfall (75–200 cm) or irrigation • High temperature (25–35°C) • Kharif crops generally need warm and humid conditions
| Feature | Kharif | Rabi | Zaid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sowing | June–July (monsoon onset) | October–November (post-monsoon) | March–June |
| Harvesting | September–October | March–April | May–June |
| Season | Monsoon/Summer | Winter | Summer (between Rabi and Kharif) |
| Water need | Heavy rainfall/irrigation | Less rainfall; depends on soil moisture | Irrigation essential |
| Examples | Rice, maize, cotton, jute | Wheat, barley, gram, mustard | Watermelon, cucumber, muskmelon, moong |
| Key crop | Rice | Wheat | Watermelon |
Kharif crops are monsoon/summer crops that are sown in June–July with the onset of the southwest monsoon and harvested in September–October. They require heavy rainfall or irrigation and warm temperatures. Major Kharif crops include rice, maize, cotton, jute, sugarcane, groundnut, soybean, bajra, and jowar.
The Kharif season runs from June–July (sowing) to September–October (harvesting). It coincides with the southwest monsoon. Kharif crops need high rainfall and warm temperatures. The word 'Kharif' is derived from Arabic meaning 'autumn' — the season when these crops are harvested.
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