Kharif, Rabi and Zaid Crops: Season, Examples and Sowing Time
India has three cropping seasons. Kharif crops are sown with the monsoon (June–July) and harvested in September–November; Rabi crops are sown in October–December and harvested in February–April; Zaid crops are grown in the summer gap between them (March–June).
- Kharif: paddy, maize, soybean, cotton, bajra, tur, urad, groundnut.
- Rabi: wheat, mustard, gram, lentil, barley, pea, potato.
- Zaid: watermelon, cucumber, muskmelon, summer moong.
हिंदी सारांश: खरीफ फसलें जून–जुलाई में बोई जाती हैं, रबी अक्टूबर–दिसंबर में और जायद मार्च–जून में। धान खरीफ, गेहूं रबी और तरबूज जायद फसल है।
| Season | Sowing | Harvest | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kharif | June–July (monsoon) | September–November | Paddy, maize, soybean, cotton, bajra, jowar, tur, urad, groundnut |
| Rabi | October–December | February–April | Wheat, mustard, gram, lentil, barley, pea, potato |
| Zaid | March–April | May–June | Watermelon, cucumber, muskmelon, summer moong |
Exact timing varies by state, variety and the arrival of the monsoon, so follow local advice from your Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) or agriculture department. Use our crop calendar for crop-wise windows.
Government prices by season
MSPs are announced separately for each season: Kharif MSP 2026-27 and Rabi MSP 2026-27. See today’s market rates on Mandi Bhav Today.
Kharif, Rabi and Zaid crops compared
| Point | Kharif | Rabi | Zaid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sowing | June to July with the monsoon | October to December | March to April |
| Harvest | September to January (varies by crop) | February to May | May to June |
| Water source | Monsoon rain | Stored soil moisture and irrigation | Irrigation |
| Weather needs | Warm, humid, good rainfall | Cool growing weather, warm harvest | Hot and dry, short duration |
| MSP | Announced around May to June | Announced around September to October | Some crops such as summer moong are covered |
Crops by group and season
| Group | Kharif | Rabi |
|---|---|---|
| Cereals | Paddy, maize, jowar, bajra, ragi | Wheat, barley |
| Pulses | Tur (arhar), moong, urad | Gram (chana), lentil (masur), pea |
| Oilseeds | Soybean, groundnut, sunflower, sesamum | Rapeseed-mustard, linseed, safflower |
| Fibre and cash crops | Cotton, sugarcane (long duration) | Potato and winter vegetables |
Harvest months for major crops
| Crop | Season | Typical harvest |
|---|---|---|
| Moong, urad | Kharif | August to October |
| Maize, soybean, bajra | Kharif | September to October |
| Paddy | Kharif | Late September to November |
| Cotton | Kharif | September to January |
| Tur (arhar) | Kharif | November to January |
| Gram, lentil, mustard | Rabi | February to April |
| Wheat, barley | Rabi | March to April |
| Watermelon, cucumber | Zaid | April to June |
These are general ranges. Variety, state and weather shift them by weeks, so check local advice. The crop calendar gives crop-wise windows.
Kharif 2026 in numbers
Mid-September 2026 sowing reports showed about 1,279.66 lakh hectares under kharif crops: paddy about 426.81 lakh hectares, soybean 122.08, cotton 109.34, maize 91.59 and bajra 64.88. The monsoon ended about 13 percent below normal, which makes crop choice and timely irrigation more important. In-season figures are provisional.
Why the season matters for your decisions
- Seed and fertiliser timing: Buy inputs before the sowing window and estimate nutrients with the fertilizer calculator.
- Water planning: Kharif depends on rain; rabi depends on irrigation, so groundwater and canal schedules matter.
- Prices: MSP is announced separately for each season. See Kharif MSP 2026-27, Rabi MSP 2026-27 and the new Rabi MSP 2027-28.
- Market timing: Check live rates in mandi bhav today; arrivals peak soon after harvest and prices often dip.
- Risk cover: Insurance schemes follow the same seasons, with enrolment deadlines before sowing or soon after.
Crop rotation across seasons
Rotating crops protects soil and reduces pests. A pulse such as moong or gram fixes nitrogen and helps the cereal that follows. Common patterns include paddy followed by wheat, soybean followed by wheat or gram, and cotton followed by a short-duration rabi crop. Local conditions decide the best rotation, so check with your Krishi Vigyan Kendra.
Common mistakes with seasons
- Sowing too late and missing the best window; late wheat loses yield.
- Choosing a crop only because last year’s price was high.
- Skipping soil testing and using the same fertiliser dose every season.
- Ignoring procurement registration dates and insurance deadlines.
Key farming terms for each season
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Sowing | Putting seed in the field |
| Transplanting | Moving nursery seedlings to the main field, common in paddy |
| Irrigation | Supplying water to crops |
| Marketing season | The year in which a crop is sold, used for MSP, such as Rabi 2027-28 |
| Zaid | Short summer season between Rabi harvest and Kharif sowing |
| Cropping intensity | How many crops are taken from the same land in a year |
Zaid crops need dependable irrigation because they grow in heat. Fruits such as watermelon and vegetables such as cucumber are popular zaid choices, and short-duration pulses such as summer moong can fit between the Rabi harvest and Kharif sowing. Good zaid planning can raise farm income, but heat, water and pest pressure make the margin for error small.
Frequently asked questions
Is wheat a Kharif or Rabi crop?
Wheat is a Rabi crop, sown in the winter months and harvested in spring.
Is paddy a Kharif crop?
Yes. Paddy is a major Kharif crop sown with the monsoon.
What is a Zaid crop?
A Zaid crop is grown in the short summer season between Rabi harvest and Kharif sowing, such as watermelon and cucumber.
What is the difference between Kharif and Rabi crops?
Kharif crops are sown with the monsoon in June to July and harvested in September to January. Rabi crops are sown in October to December and harvested in February to May.
Is maize a Kharif or Rabi crop?
Maize is mainly a Kharif crop, though some states also grow it in the Rabi season.
Is mustard a Kharif or Rabi crop?
Mustard (rapeseed-mustard) is a Rabi crop, sown around October.
Which season has more crops with MSP announced together?
Kharif MSP covers 14 crops, including paddy, jowar, cotton and soybean, while Rabi MSP covers six crops: wheat, barley, gram, lentil, rapeseed-mustard and safflower.
Can I grow Rabi crops in the Kharif season?
Usually not. Each crop needs a suitable temperature and day length, so sowing outside its season reduces yield.
Related tools: MSP calculator · Mandi bhav today · Crop calendar · Tractor EMI calculator
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