Primary cereal and commercial kharif crops
- Paddy (Dhan): The primary staple kharif grain, grown extensively across irrigated and rainfed plains in West Bengal, UP, Punjab, and Andhra Pradesh.
- Maize (Makka): Cultivated for food, poultry feed, and industrial starch in Karnataka, MP, Bihar, and Rajasthan.
- Cotton (Kapas): Major commercial cash crop grown in black clay soils across Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, and Punjab.
- Sugarcane: Long-duration cash crop sown in spring or onset of monsoon in UP, Maharashtra, and Karnataka.
Kharif oilseeds and leguminous pulses
- Soybean: Dominant oilseed and protein crop in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan.
- Groundnut (Moongfali): Grown on sandy and red loams in Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.
- Pulses: Pigeon pea (Arhar / Tur), Green gram (Moong), and Black gram (Urad) that enrich soil through nitrogen-fixing root nodules.
Climatic conditions and government support
- Requires warm, humid weather (25°C to 35°C) and substantial rainfall or assured canal irrigation for vegetative growth.
- Farmers access institutional crop insurance under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).
- Minimum Support Price (MSP) is announced prior to sowing to safeguard crop economics.
Official source
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Directorate of Economics and Statistics (DES) ↗Related on KisanPe
Common questions
What are the main kharif crops in India?
Paddy, cotton, soybean, maize, groundnut, arhar (tur), moong, urad, bajra, and jowar are major kharif crops.
When are kharif crops sown and harvested?
Kharif crops are sown in June-July with monsoon rains and harvested from September to November.
Which is the largest kharif cereal crop in India?
Paddy (rice) is the most widely cultivated kharif cereal crop in India.
Can kharif crops be insured under government schemes?
Yes, farmers can insure notified kharif crops under PMFBY at a nominal 2% premium rate.
General guidance, not personal advice. For your farm, ask your local Krishi Vigyan Kendra or agriculture officer.
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