Comprehensive Overview of Kharif Crops Kharif crops , often referred to as monsoon crops autumn crops

| Feature | Kharif (Monsoon) | Rabi (Winter) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Sowing | June (Monsoon start) | October (Winter start) | | Harvesting | September/October | March/April | | Requires | Hot, humid weather & rain | Cool, dry weather | | Key Example | Rice, Cotton, Maize | Wheat, Barley, Mustard | | Water Source | Natural rainfall (mostly) | Irrigation (mostly) |

Q4: Can Kharif crops be grown without monsoon rain? Yes, through irrigation. However, it is economically inefficient. For instance, growing paddy in dry season requires 3–4 times more irrigation water than during monsoon due to evaporative losses.

Regional Variations: Kharif Around the World

While the term "Kharif" is specific to the Indian subcontinent, the concept exists globally: