ShereeScotto4 at 13:11, 20 January 2026

2026-01-20T13:11:13Z

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{{More citations needed|date=April 2022}}{{Short description|Classification of crops harvested in autumn season in the Indian Subcontinent}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
[[File:Punjab Monsoon.jpg|thumb|View of [[Paddy field|Paddy fields]] as Rice crop is a major kharif crop grown in the monsoon season of [[Punjab, India]]]]
[[File:Wild cotton at Mission Garden (Tucson).jpg|thumb|Cotton]]
[[File:Maize crop farming.jpg|thumb|Maize]]
'''Kharif crops''', also known as '''monsoon crops''' or '''autumn crops''', are domesticated plants that are cultivated and harvested in [[India]], [[Pakistan]] and [[Bangladesh]] during the [[Indian subcontinent]]'s [[Monsoon of South Asia|monsoon season]], which lasts from June to November depending on the area.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Das|first1=N.R.|title=Crops of India|date=2011 |publisher=Scientific Publishers Journals Dept|location=1 January 2011|isbn=978-8172336813}}</ref> Monsoon rains may begin as early as May in some parts of the Indian subcontinent, and crops are generally harvested from the third week of September to October. Rice, maize, and cotton are some of the major Kharif crops in India. Unlike the [[Rabi crop]]s, which are grown in the winter, the kharif crops require good rainfall.

==Etymology==
The words ''Kharif'' and ''[[rabi crop|rabi]]'' both have their origins in the [[Arabic]] via [[Classical Persian]]. These came to be used in India with the ascent of the [[Mughal Empire]] in the Indian subcontinent and have been widely used ever since. ''Kharif'' means "[[autumn]]" in Arabic. The sowing happens during the monsoon and reaping happens close to autumn<ref>[[India Meteorological Department]]</ref>{{Circular reference|date=May 2021}} in the Indian subcontinent; this proximity to the autumn reap season is called the kharif period.<ref name="Gupta">{{cite book|last1=Gupta|first1=Akhil|title=Postcolonial Developments: Agriculture in the Making of Modern India|url=https://archive.org/details/postcolonialdeve00akhi|url-access=registration|date=20 July 1998|publisher=Duke University Press Books|isbn=0822322137}}</ref>

==Kharif season==
The Kharif season varies by crop and region, starting at the earliest in May and ending at the latest in January. In India, the season is popularly considered to start in June and end in October.<ref>[http://eands.dacnet.nic.in/At_A_Glance-2011/Appendix-IV.xls Crop Calendar of Major Crops, Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India]</ref> Kharif crops are usually sown at the beginning of the first rains during the advent of the south-west monsoon season, and they are harvested at the end of monsoon season (October–November).

Monsoon sowing dates vary, occurring toward the end of May in the southern state of [[Kerala]] and reaching July in some north Indian states. In other regions like [[Maharashtra]], the west coast of India, and Pakistan, which receive rains in June, Kharif crops are sown in May, June and July.<ref name="Gopal">{{cite book|last1=Gopal|first1=Lallanji|title=History of Agriculture in India from C. Ad 1947 to the Present (History of Science, Philosophy & Culture in Indian Civilization)|date=8 September 2014|publisher=Project of History of Indian Science, Philosophy and Culture/Munshirm Manoharlal Publishers|isbn=978-8187586661}}</ref> In Bangladesh, Kharif crops are usually sown with the beginning of the first rains in June.

These crops are dependent on the quantity of rainwater as well as its timing. Too much, too little, or rain at the wrong time may lay waste to the whole year's efforts.

Kharif crops stand in contrast to the [[rabi crops]], which are cultivated during the dry season.

==Common kharif crops==
Rice is the most important Kharif crop of India. It is grown in rain-fed areas with hot and humid climates, especially the eastern and southern parts of India. Rice requires a temperature of {{convert|16|-|20|C}} during the growing season and {{convert|18|-|32|C}} during ripening. It needs rainfall from {{convert|150|-|200|cm}} and needs a flooded field during the growth period.

{{Div col}}
=== Cereals ===
* [[Jowar]] (sorghum)
* [[Maize]] (corn)
* [[Millet]]
* [[Rice]] ([[Paddy rice|paddy]] and [[deepwater rice]])

=== Fruits ===
In Kharif crop following fruits are produced:<ref>{{cite web |title=Crop Details, Crop Reporting Service |url=http://www.crs.agripunjab.gov.pk/crop_details |website=www.crs.agripunjab.gov.pk |access-date=12 August 2021 |archive-date=12 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812035739/http://www.crs.agripunjab.gov.pk/crop_details |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*[[Almond]]s
*[[Apple]]s
*[[Apricot]]s
*[[Bananas]]
*[[Cantaloupe]]
*[[Chikoo]]
*[[Coconut]]
*[[Date (fruit)|Dates]]
*[[Figs]]
*[[Guava]]
*[[Jamun]]
*[[Litchi]]
*[[Luffa]]
*[[Mango]]
*[[Cucumis melo|Melon]]
*[[Orange (fruit)|Orange]]
*[[Pomegrante]]
*[[Plums]]
*[[Pears]]
*[[Phalsa]]
*[[Papaya]]
*[[Peaches]]
*[[Galia melon|Sarda]]
*[[Sugarcane]]
*[[Walnut]]
*[[Watermelon]]

=== Seed plants ===
* [[Arhar]] ([[tur (bean)|tur]])
* [[Black gram]] ([[urad (bean)|urad]])
* [[Cotton]]
* [[Cowpea]] (chavala)
* [[Green gram]] ([[moong]])
* [[Peanut|Groundnut]]
* [[Guar]]
* [[Vigna aconitifolia|Moth bean]]
* [[Mung bean]]
* [[Sesame]] (til)
* [[Soybean]]
* [[Vigna mungo|Urad bean]]
* [[Red gram]] (Pigeon pea)
* [[Fennel]] ([[Saunf]])

=== Vegetables ===
List as follows:<ref name=har1>[http://haryanaseeds.gov.in/products_vegetables_kharif.html Kharif crop list] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122051716/http://haryanaseeds.gov.in/products_vegetables_kharif.html |date=22 November 2018 }}, Haryana Seeds Development Corp.</ref>
* [[Momordica charantia|Bitter gourd]] (karela)
* [[Bottle gourd]]
* [[Brinjal]]
* [[Chili pepper|Chili]]
* [[Green bean]]
* [[Okra|Ladies' fingers]]
* [[Luffa|Sponge gourd]]
* [[Tinda]]
* [[Tomato]]
* [[Turmeric]]
{{Div end}}

==See also==
{{portal|Agriculture and Agronomy}}
* [[Rabi crops]]
* [[Zaid crops]]
* [[Cash crops]]
* [[Kharif crops]] ( This page )

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120115023354/http://etawah.nic.in/farming.htm E2kB Farming – Rabi, Kharif and Zayad Crops – Animal Husbandry – Fishery]

[[Category:Crops]]
[[Category:Agriculture in India]]
[[Category:Agriculture in Pakistan]]

Kharif crop - Revision history

ShereeScotto4 at 13:11, 20 January 2026