Rice (Paddy), Maize, Jowar (Sorghum), Bajra (Pearl Millet), and Ragi.
Beyond economics, the Kharif season is a cultural festival. It is celebrated through:
Rice is the most vital Kharif crop. It serves as the staple food for a large portion of the Indian population. It requires high heat, high humidity, and heavy rainfall (above 100 cm). Major rice-producing states include West Bengal, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh.
Usually occurs between June and July . Sowing dates vary by region, starting as early as May in Kerala and extending into July in North India.
The predictable rhythm of the Kharif season is fracturing. Climate change has introduced erratic rainfall—long dry spells punctuated by cyclonic downpours. Farmers in Punjab and Haryana, traditionally rice strongholds, are facing dropping water tables. In response, the government is actively promoting crop diversification, shifting water-guzzling paddy to millets or pulses in stressed zones.
