Kharif Season: Characteristic Features, Cultivation, Challenges & Major Crops

Kharif, autumn, or monsoon crops are crops cultivated during the monsoon season. Because of the excellent climatic circumstances, they are only sown and harvested during the rainy season.

The term Kharif derives from Arabic and was first used in India with the rise of the Mughal Empire.

Since then, it has become widely used. Kharif means autumn in Arabic, thus the two seasons coincide. 

Characteristic Features of Kharif Crops

• The kharif crop season begins after the monsoon season in May.

• These crops were harvested between September and October.

• These crops required a lot of rain, between 100 and 110 cm.

• These crops flourished on loamy and alluvial soils.

• West Bengal, Assam, the coastal regions of Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh are major cultivation areas for kharif crops.

• To grow, hot or warm climatic conditions are required.

In which month are Kharif crops cultivated and harvested?

Kharif crops are grown during the dry or monsoon season. They are sown in April and May, at the start of the monsoon season.

When the crops are fully mature, they are harvested near the conclusion of the monsoon season in September and October.

What are the challenges faced by Kharif Crops?

Since Kharif crops are cultivated during the rainy season, they confront the following challenges:

• Crop development can be hindered by heavy or severe rainfall patterns. Sufficient water is required, however, too much water may have a negative impact on the development pattern.

• Hailstorms can cause agricultural damage. Heavy hailstorms can cause crops to bend or be permanently destroyed, resulting in a loss. Hail storms have occurred at various periods, causing damage to half-grown and full-grown crops.

• Inappropriate weather has an impact on the growth pattern. It might result in larger or smaller grains, or it could have an impact on crop quality.

What are major Kharif Crops?