Did you know that India is the world’s greatest producer of bananas and mangoes, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization? It is also the second-largest producer of wheat and rice in the world. As a matter of fact, agriculture has traditionally served as the foundation of our country’s economy. Since the beginning of the Green Revolution, we have begun to cultivate a wide array of crops. Inform ourselves about the most important crops grown in India by reading the following articles:
A crop is a plant that has been cultivated or raised on a big scale for commercial purposes. Crops are often raised with the purpose of being traded on the open market. In other words, a crop is any plant that is planted and harvested in large quantities for the goal of making money. In India, there are two major types of crops that are grown. Specifically, the months of Kharif and Rabi.
Many Asian countries use the terms Kharif and Rabi to refer to two different cropping patterns that are based on the monsoon season. While the cropping season for Kharif crops begins with the onset of the monsoon and ends when it is completed, the cropping season for other crops is determined by the conclusion of the monsoon. Rabi crops, on the other hand, flourish during the winter.
As a result, farmers seed them near the conclusion of the monsoon season and harvest them just before the start of the summer harvesting season. Furthermore, we can see that the climates that they require are also different. In order to grow properly, Kharif crops require a hot and wet climate, whereas Rabi crops demand a cold and dry one. The importance of understanding the difference between Rabi and Kharif crops becomes apparent as a result.
Kharif Crops
Given that the season overlaps with the beginning of either autumn or winter, the Arabic word “Kharif” is translated as “autumn.” Because the production of these crops takes place during the monsoon season, the Kharif crop is often referred to as the monsoon crop. It varies from state to state, but the Kharif season normally lasts from June through September across the country. It is planted at the beginning of the monsoon season, around June, and harvested around September or October. Kharif crops include rice, maize, bajra, ragi, soybean, peanut, and cotton, among others. Examine some of these in greater detail, as follows: As previously stated, India is the world’s second-largest producer of rice, trailing only China in terms of output.
According to estimates, India produces about 20 percent of the world’s rice crop. It is, without a doubt, the most important agricultural crop that is grown in the United States. India’s staple food is rice, and rice production is ubiquitous throughout the country as a result of this. Rice is a major crop in locations with abundant rainfall. For it to be successful, average temperatures of 25°C and a minimum of 100 cm of rainfall must be achieved. It has typically been produced in rice paddy lands that have been flooded. The northeastern plains and coastal regions of the country are the primary rice-producing regions of the country.
Maize
In India, maize is the third most significant grain crop after rice and wheat, according to the World Bank. It accounts for nearly one-tenth of the country’s overall agricultural output, according to the USDA. The cultivation of maize is concentrated in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, respectively. It necessitates temperatures ranging from 21°C to 27°C as well as rainfall ranging from 50 cm to 75 cm in depth.
Rabi Crops
The Arabic word for spring is “Rabi,” which means “new life.” Because these crops are harvested in the spring, they are known as spring crops. The Rabi season begins in November and lasts until March or April, depending on the region. Since the monsoon season has already ended by November, irrigation is the primary method of cultivating the Rabi crop.
In fact, unseasonal rainfall in November or December can cause significant damage to the harvest. Farmers sow the seeds in the beginning of autumn, which results in a harvest in the following spring. Some of the most important rabi crops grown in India include wheat, barley, mustard, and green peas, to name a few.
India is the world’s second-largest producer of wheat after the United States. In terms of agricultural income, it is heavily reliant on this rabi crop. Wheat is a staple grain for Indians, particularly in the northern portions of the country.
Wheat requires cool temperatures during its growing season, with temperatures ranging from 14°C to 18°C being optimal. Ideally, rainfall should range between 50 centimeters and 90 centimeters. Wheat, on the other hand, necessitates bright sunlight and slightly warmer weather during the harvesting season in the spring. India’s wheat-growing state, Uttar Pradesh, is the most productive in the world, followed by Punjab and Haryana.
Mustard
Mustard is a member of the ‘Cruciferae’ family of plants. The oil derived from mustard is edible, and as a result, mustard is commonly used in Indian cuisine for cooking. It can only grow in a subtropical climate with dry and cool weather, which is what it needs. Temperatures ranging from 10°C to 25°C are ideal for mustard cultivation. Rajasthan is the state with the highest mustard production in India.
Conclusion
The kharif crop, which is the polar opposite of the rabi crop, is planted after the rabi and zaid crops have been harvested one after the other, and before the rabi crop.
These kharif crops are planted at the beginning of the rainy season before the first rains fall, ensuring that they are sown at the start of the monsoon season and harvested at the end of the monsoon season. Kharif crops include rice, maize, and pulses such as urad dal, moong dal, and millets, which are among the most significant. A rabi crop is a type of crop that is planted at the conclusion of the monsoon season or at the start of the winter season, for example, between September and October. These crops are referred to as monsoon crops since they grow during the rainy season.