Kharif Agriculture
Structure, Crops, and Rainfall Dependence
The kharif season (June–October) is one of India's three agricultural seasons (kharif, rabi, and zaid). It is entirely monsoon-dependent for unirrigated tracts, making the timing and quantum of southwest monsoon rainfall the single most critical determinant of output.
- Sowing window: June–July; beyond mid-July, most major kharif crops (paddy, cotton, soybean) suffer significant yield penalties due to shortened growing seasons.
- Major crops: rice (paddy), maize, cotton, soybean, tur (pigeon pea), urad (black gram), bajra (pearl millet), jowar (sorghum), groundnut, and sugarcane.
- Rainfall sensitivity: paddy requires 1,000–1,200 mm over the season; cotton 600–1,200 mm; soybean 600–900 mm; bajra and jowar 400–600 mm (significantly more drought-tolerant).
- India's kharif foodgrain output typically ranges 140–160 million tonnes (rice ~100 MT; coarse cereals ~30–35 MT; pulses ~10–12 MT).
- Kharif output has a 3–6 month transmission lag to food prices — particularly for vegetable oils, pulses, and coarse cereals.
● Tracked since March 14, 2026 · last seen June 23, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
23 Jun '26
Delayed Monsoon Threatens Kharif Sowing: Government Activates Crop Substitution Strategy
Economics
18 May '26
El Niño Events Consistently Reduce Kharif Crop Yields Across India: ICAR Study
Environment & Ecology
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