Kharif crops are crops that are sown with the arrival of the monsoon (around June) and harvested at the end of the rainy season or early autumn (around September–October) in the Indian subcontinent.

Quick Scoop: What is a Kharif crop?

  • Meaning: Kharif crops are also called monsoon or autumn crops because they grow during the rainy season and are usually harvested in autumn.
  • Season: Generally sown in June–July with the onset of the southwest monsoon and harvested from late September to November, depending on the region.
  • Climate need: These crops need a hot and humid climate and depend heavily on rainfall for good yield.
  • Regions: Common in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, where agriculture is closely linked to the monsoon pattern.

Common examples

  • Rice (paddy)
  • Maize (corn)
  • Millets (bajra, jowar, ragi)
  • Pulses like moong and urad
  • Oilseeds like groundnut and soybean
  • Cotton as a major fibre crop

How they differ from Rabi crops (in simple terms)

  • Kharif crops: Sown with monsoon rains (June–July), harvested around autumn; need warm, wet conditions.
  • Rabi crops: Sown in winter (around October–November) and harvested in spring; prefer cool, dry conditions.

Why Kharif crops matter today

In 2026, discussions about climate change and monsoon variability keep Kharif crops in the news because any delay or shortage in rainfall directly affects yields, farmer income, and food prices. Governments and farmers closely track monsoon forecasts each year to decide when to sow these crops.

In many student forums and exam-prep discussions, “what is Kharif crop” is still a very common question because it appears regularly in school exams and competitive tests in India.

TL;DR: Kharif crops = monsoon crops, sown at the start of the rains (around June) and harvested in autumn, with rice, maize and cotton being classic examples.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.