A practical crop calendar for Indian farmers

Indian agriculture runs on three seasons: Kharif, Rabi, and Zaid. Knowing which crop fits which season — and more importantly, when buyers actively look for it — helps you time both your planting and your listings.

Kharif (monsoon crops): June to October

Kharif crops are sown with the first monsoon rains in June and harvested in September or October. They need warm temperatures and high rainfall.

Main Kharif crops

• Rice (paddy) — sown June, harvested October. Demand peaks November to January.
• Maize — sown June, harvested September. Demand stays steady through the year.
• Cotton — sown May to June, harvested October to December. Sold through to March.
• Sugarcane — planted February to March, harvested December to March of the next year.
• Soybean — sown June, harvested October. Demand peaks at oil-mill procurement time.
• Groundnut — sown June, harvested October. Holiday-season demand October to December.
• Tur (arhar) dal — sown June, harvested November to January.

Rabi (winter crops): October to April

Rabi crops are sown after the monsoon ends in October or November and harvested in March or April. They depend on residual soil moisture and winter irrigation.

Main Rabi crops

• Wheat — sown November, harvested April. Demand strong throughout the year, peaks at FCI procurement in April–June.
• Mustard — sown October, harvested February to March. Oil mills buy heavily February to April.
• Gram (chana) — sown October to November, harvested February to March.
• Barley — sown November, harvested March to April.
• Peas — sown October, harvested January to February. Fresh peas have very high winter demand.
• Potato — planted October, harvested January to February in north India.

Zaid (summer crops): March to June

Zaid is the short summer season between Rabi harvest and the next Kharif sowing. Zaid crops need irrigation and tolerate heat. They are typically vegetables and melons.

Main Zaid crops

• Watermelon — sown February, harvested May. Sells fastest in May–June.
• Muskmelon — sown February to March, harvested April to May.
• Cucumber — sown February, harvested April to May.
• Bitter gourd — sown February, harvested April to June.
• Okra (bhindi) — sown February, harvested April to August.
• Moong dal — sown March, harvested June. Premium prices because of short supply.

Year-round vegetables

Some vegetables grow nearly all year in different regions of India. Tomato, onion, brinjal, chilli, and leafy greens can be listed any month. Prices for these vary wildly with weather events — a single hailstorm in Madhya Pradesh can push tomato prices up by 200 percent within a week. Keep an eye on news from major producing states and time your listings accordingly.

Planning your listings

List your crop on Online Mandi about two weeks before you expect to harvest. Early listings attract buyers who are planning their own purchases. They also give you time to negotiate before the seasonal price drops that come with peak supply.

For storable crops like grains, pulses, and oilseeds, you have more flexibility. Watch prices for two or three weeks after harvest — if they keep dropping, sell soon. If they stabilise or rise, you can hold and sell at festival demand peaks (Diwali, Holi, Eid, Christmas, regional harvest festivals).

Festival demand windows

• October–November (Navratri, Diwali): pulses, ghee, dry fruits, decorative produce
• March (Holi): milk products, jaggery
• April–May (Eid, regional new-year festivals): livestock for sacrifice, ghee, dry fruits
• August–September (Janmashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi, Onam): vegetables, fruits, milk products

A farmer who plans around these seasons earns noticeably more per year than one who sells at whatever the daily mandi rate happens to be.