India is among the top three global producers of many crops, including wheat, rice, pulses, cotton, peanuts, fruits and vegetables.
The major crops in India can be divided into four categories-
On the basis of seasons, the crops in India have been divided into three categories.
The Kharif crop is the summer crop or monsoon crop in India. Kharif crops are usually sown with the beginning of the first rains in July, during the south-west monsoon season. Major Kharif crops of India include Millets (Bajra and Jowar), Paddy (Rice), Maize, Moong (Pulses), Groundnut, Red Chillies, Cotton, Soybean, Sugarcane, Turmeric, Jowar, Rapeseed, Oilseeds etc.
GROWING SEASON: May to July
HARVESTING SEASON: September to October.
The Rabi crop is the spring harvest or winter crop in India. It is sown in October last and harvested in March April every year. Major Rabi crops in India include Wheat, Barley, Mustard, Sesame, Peas, Zaid Rabi crops: Watermelon, Tories, Cucumber & other vegetables etc.
GROWING SEASON: October to December
HARVESTING SEASON: February to April.
This crop is grown in some parts of country during March to June. Prominent examples are Muskmelon, Watermelon, Vegetables of cucurbitacae family such as bitter gourd, pumpkin, ridged gourd etc.
GROWING SEASON: Throughout the year.
HARVESTING SEASON: March to June
CROPS – MAJOR PRODUCER STATES
CROP |
TYPE OF CROP |
SEASON |
MAJOR PRODUCER STATES |
---|---|---|---|
Paddy (Rice) |
Food grain |
Kharif crop |
West Bengal, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh. |
Bajra |
|
Kharif crop |
Gujarat, Rajasthan |
Wheat |
Food grain |
Rabi crop |
Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana. |
Maize |
Food grain |
Kharif crop |
Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka |
Coarse Cereals/Millets |
Food grain |
Kharif crop |
Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh
|
Pulses |
Food grain |
Kharif crop |
Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamilnadu |
Black pepper |
|
|
Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka |
Cardamom |
|
|
Karnataka, Kerala |
Caster seed |
Cash crop |
|
Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh |
Niger seed |
|
|
Odessa, Uttar Pradesh |
Ragi |
Food grain |
Rabi |
Karnataka, Tamilnadu |
Rapeseed and mustard |
Cash crop |
Kharif crop |
Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, |
Sunflower |
Cash crop |
|
Maharashtra, Karnataka |
Sannhemp |
|
|
Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh |
Sesamum |
|
Rabi crop |
Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, |
Sugarcane |
Cash crop |
Kharif crop |
Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, |
Tapioca |
|
|
Kerala, Tamilnadu |
Tea |
Plantation crop |
|
Assam, Kerala |
Tobacco |
Cash crop |
|
Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat |
Tur |
|
|
Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh |
Chillies |
Food grain |
Kharif crop |
Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh |
Coffee |
Plantation crop |
|
Karnataka, Kerala |
Coriander |
|
|
, Andhra Pradesh |
Potato |
Cash crop |
|
UP, West Bengal, Bihar |
Ginger |
|
|
Kerala, Himachal Pradesh |
Gram |
|
|
Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh |
Groundnut |
Cash crop |
Kharif crop |
Gujarat, Tamilnadu |
Guar seed |
|
Kharif crop |
Rajasthan, Haryana |
Jowar |
|
Kharif crop |
Maharashtra, Karnataka |
Jute |
Cash crop |
|
West Bengal, Bihar |
Line seed |
Cash crop |
Kharif crop |
Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh |
Cotton |
Cash crop |
Kharif crop |
Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh |
Silk |
Cash crop |
|
Karnataka, Jammu & Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh |
Rubber |
Plantation crop |
|
Kerala, Tamil nadu, Karnataka |
Total Oil seeds |
Cash crop |
Kharif crop |
MP, Maharashtra, Rajasthan |
Soybean |
Cash crop |
Kharif crop |
MP, Maharashtra, Rajasthan |
Coconut |
Plantation crop |
|
|
Onion |
|
|
Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka |
Lentil (Maser) |
|
|
UP, MP, Bihar |
Moong |
Food grain |
Kharif crop |
|