Consider the following crops

1. Cotton
2. Groundnut
3. Rice
4. Wheat

Which of these are Kharif crops?

1. 1 and 4
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1, 2 and 3
4. 2, 3 and 4

Explanation

Option (c) is correct

• Cropping pattern refers to the distribution of different crops within specific areas at times. These patterns have traditionally been shaped by the monsoons, which determine the country’s agricultural calendar – Kharif (monsoon), Rabi (winter), and Zaid (summer).
• Kharif Season (July – Sept/Oct):
  • Relies on monsoon rains.
  • Major crops: Rice, maize, cotton, sorghum, millet, pulses (arhar, moong), and oilseeds (groundnut, soybean).
• Rabi Season (Oct-Mar/Apr):
  • Crucial for food security.
  • Major crops: Wheat, barley, mustard, gram, lentils.
• Zaid Season (Mar – June):
  • The short season between Kharif and Rabi.
  • Major Crops: Watermelon, cucumber, fodder crops, pumpkin, etc.
  • Thrive in warm, dry weather; grown using residual moisture or irrigation.

Answer: (c) 1, 2 and 3; Difficulty Level: Easy