Rabi and Kharif crops

Kharif crops or monsoon crops are domesticated plants cultivated and harvested during the rainy (monsoon) season in South Asia, which lasts between April and October depending on the area.

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Rabi crops or Rabi harvest are agricultural crops sown in winter and harvested in the spring in South Asia. The term is derived from the Arabic word for “spring”, which is used in the Indian subcontinent, where it is the spring harvest (also known as the “winter crop”).

This article will further elaborate upon Rabi and Kharif Crops within the context of the Civil Services Examination.

Overview of Rabi and Karif Crops

Rabi Crops are harvested in the spring season while it is sown in winter. 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. A good rain in winter spoils the rabi crops but is good for Kharif crops.

Kharif crops are monsoon crops that consist of plants such as rice. Ideally, the Kharif crops are harvested in the monsoon season which begins as early as May in some parts of the Indian subcontinent. Kharif crops are generally harvested from 3rd week of September to October.

Major Rabi Crops

Some of the major Rabi Crops are listed in the table below:

Major Rabi Crops

Major Kharif Crops

Major Kharif CropsSome of the major Kharif Crops are listed in the table below:

Major Kharif Crops

Find complete information about the UPSC Syllabus by visiting the linked article. For more UPSC related preparation materials visit the links given in the table below: