Rabi and Kharif Crops

Rabi crops or Rabi harvest (Hindi: रबी, Urdu: رَبِیع, Punjabi: ਰੱਬੀ) refers to agricultural crops sown in winter and harvested in the summer season. The term is derived from the Arabic word for "spring", which is used in the Indian subcontinent. The Rabi crop (Hindi: रबी, Urdu: ربي) is the spring harvest (also known as the "winter crop") in Indian subcontinent.

The term Rabi means "spring" in Arabic, and the rabi crops are grown between the months mid November to April.

The water that has percolated in the ground during the rains is main source of water for these crops. Rabi crops require irrigation.

So a good or bountiful rain may tend to spoil the Kharif crops but it is good for Rabi crops.

These crops are taken after the departure of monsoon rains. The seeds are sown after the rains have gone and harvesting begins in April/May.

Major Rabi crop is wheat in India followed by barley, mustard, sesame and peas. (They are harvested early as they are ready early). So Indian Markets are flooded with Green Peas from January to March (Peak is Feb.)

The rabi season starts with the onset of north-east monsoon in October. 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.

 Examples of Rabi Crops: Wheat, Gram Pea, Mustard, Linseed, Barley, Peas

The Kharif crops (Hindi: ख़रीफ़, Urdu: خريف) is the autumn harvest ; but better know as the monsoon crops in Indian sub continent(India, Pakistan Srilanka, Nepal).

Kharif crops are usually sown with the beginning of the first rains towards the end of May in the state of Kerala during the advent of south-west monsoon season.

As the Monsoon rains advance towards the north India the sowing dates are accordingly vary and and it is done in July in North Indian states .

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

Since this period coincides with the beginning of Autumn / winter in the Indian sub-continent It is called " Kharif period " and the crops are "Kharif crops" The term Kharif means "autumn" in Arabic.

The list of some Kharif crops:

Bajra and Jowar,Paddy or Rice,Maize ,Moong and other pulses ,Groundnut , Chillies ( they are now round the year ) Cotton, Soyabean , Sugarcane and Turmeric .