The farming sector distinguishes the types of crops into two categories, on the basis of their commercial use- cash or food crop and on the basis of the cropping season- Rabi and Kharif crops. The crops grown in the Rabi season are termed Rabi crops and the crops grown in the Kharif season are termed as Kharif crops. In a country where 70 per cent of the population is dependent on agriculture, seasons play an important role when it comes to the cropping patterns across the different states of the country. The majority of the farmers are marginal farmers, who don’t own a prominent percentage of land and are dependent on primitive farming methods for their output. If the correct cropping pattern is not followed, the farmers may suffer a huge loss. The farmers in India follow the weather pattern very carefully for growing the season-specific crops. 

Rabi

Rabi is an Arabic word for the spring season and is generally described as the time period of October- December (winter season) wherein the seeds are sown and the time period of spring, April to May during which the crops are harvested. The crops harvested in this season are termed Rabi crops. The majority of the agricultural sector income is dependent on the Rabi crops. Rabi crops are not affected by the rainfall pattern.

Kharif

Kharif crops or monsoon crops are the crops that are grown in the Kharif season. During Kharif season, seeds are sown at the beginning of the rainy season and are harvested at the end of the monsoon season, i.e., September and October. These types of crops are water-abundant crops and require hot and humid weather to properly cultivate. Kharif crops get affected by the irregular rainfall pattern in the country.

Differences between Rabi and Kharif

Sowing Months

Rabi Crops

The best time for sowing the seeds of Rabi crops is identified as the after monsoon months of October-November. Given the requirements of the crop to have a low temperature at the time of sowing, the farmers usually sow the seeds of rabi crops at the start of the mentioned months.

Crops: Wheat, gram, barley, lentils, mustard etc.

Kharif Crops

The Kharif crops or the monsoon crops are usually sown in the monsoon months of June-October. The crops require a warm and humid climate for germination and hence the monsoon months are considered to be perfect for sowing the seeds. As monsoon arrives at a different time in the different states of the country, the exact months differ from state to state. For example, in the southern states, the seeds might be sowed by the end of May and in the northern states, the seeds are usually sown by the end of June.

Crops: Rice, maize, paddy, sugarcane, cotton etc.

Harvesting Months

Rabi Crops

The Rabi crops are generally harvested as the weather starts getting warmer, during the months of March-April. The crops contribute a significant portion to the annual GDP of the country.  Festivals like Lohri, Baisakhi are celebrated to commemorate the harvesting of the Rabi crops.

Kharif Crops

The Kharif crops are generally harvested during the months which marks the end of the monsoon seasons in the country, September-October. Just like the Rabi crops, the southern festivals celebrate the harvesting season of Kharif crops by celebrating festivals such as Onam.

Types of Crops

Rabi Crops

The types of crops grown and harvested in the Rabi season are:

1. Wheat: One of the staple crops grown in the country is wheat which is sown and harvested in the Rabi season. Primarily consumed in the northern parts of the country, wheat is a crop rich in proteins, vitamins and carbohydrates. The Green Revolution in the country increased wheat production in the country by several folds. States leading the production of wheat in the country are Punjab, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh
2. Barley: Barley crop generally requires cool and semi-arid temperature for cultivation and is sown and harvested during the Rabi season. India is also one of the leading producers of barley in the world. Rich in several nutrients, barley is used as a cereal in different parts of the world.
3. Gram: Gram is one of the important Rabi crops which usually takes 90-120 days for cultivation. India is also one of the important producers of gram crops in the world. Being a multi-purpose crop, the leaves are used as vegetables and the chickpea straw is used as animal fodder. On the basis of yield, two types of a gram are identified; desi chana or Kabuli chana.

Kharif Crops

The types of crops grown and harvested in the Kharif season are:

1. Rice: Being a leading producer of rice in the world, rice is eaten as a staple diet in the Indian household. Since the rice is a water-abundant crop and requires a hot and humid climate to get cultivated, it is sown and harvested in the Kharif season.
2. Sugarcane: Around 2.8% of the gross cropped area is engaged in sugarcane production in the country. Being a major raw material in the sugar industry, it needs a hot and humid climate to get cultivated. 
3. Cotton: The most important fibre crop in the country, Indian cotton is famous all over the world for its rich quality. Black soil, hot and humid climate is the most suitable for the cultivation of cotton.

Conclusion

The crops in India are distinguished on the basis of the cropping season it follows and the two primary crop seasons in the country are Rabi and Kharif. The Rabi crops are harvested in warm weather and Kharif in the monsoon season.