Kharif Cropping Season and Monsoon Dependence
Kharif crops are sown at the beginning of the monsoon (June–July) and harvested in September–October. They rely almost entirely on monsoon rainfall and are highly vulnerable to its variability. Unlike rabi crops (sown October–November; depend on residual soil moisture and irrigation), kharif crops have limited buffer against deficient rainfall.
- Major kharif crops: rice, maize, cotton, sugarcane, groundnut, soybean, arhar (tur), moong, urad, jowar, bajra
- Rice: single largest kharif crop; India is the world's largest rice exporter
- Pulses and oilseeds are critical for domestic food security and inflation control
- Rain-fed cultivation covers ~50% of India's 140 million hectares of cultivated area
● Tracked since April 13, 2026 · last seen May 12, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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