PRINCIPAL CROP SEASONS
Agriculturally the year may be divid into two principal seasons namely Rabi and Kharif.
Rabi Season.
- In North India this season known as Hari season. Wheat, Barley, Gram, Mustard, Peas etc. are the main Rabi crops.
- Sowing of these crops is done in autumn and harvesting in springs.
- Usual sowing time of these crops starts from middle of October and ends at the end of November.
- Harvesting time of these crops starts from 15th March and ends by 15th April.
- Sowing and harvesting times may vary slightly depending upon the crop and local climatic conditions.
Kharif Season.
- This reason in also known as Sawni season. Cotton, Millets, Paddy, Groundnut etc. are the main Kharif crops.
- Kharif crops sown from 15 March and onwards say up to beginning of May.
- Harvesting of these crops starts from middle of October and continues up to the end of November.
- Harvesting and sowing times, again, may vary slightly depending upon the type of crop and local climatic conditions.
- Sometimes short duration Rabi and Kharif crops are harvested and fields remain vacant for say one or two months, before next main crop of the season is.
- In such circumstances some short duration crops such as fodder and vegetables may be sown in the vacant fields and harvestbefore next main crop of the season in the same field.
- Such short duration crops which are grown during the intervening periods between two main crops the successive seasons are known as zaid crops.
- The zaid crops whichgrown after the main crop of Rabi season known as Zaid Rabi crops.
- Similarly zaid crops which are grown after the main crop of Kharif season are known as Zaid Kharif crops.
- Table gives the relevant data about various crops of Northern India.
