Published on: 24-Jan-2025
Updated on: 24-Jan-2025
India is a diverse country where people of different castes, religions, and colors live together and speak different languages. In the same way, crops also have diversity as they have their own season in which they grow cultivated, irrigated, and many more.
Crops are the most essential substance for the existence of humans as we cannot live without food and we get food from crops. But not only humans, every living being directly and indirectly depends on crops for their survival with its animals, microorganisms, etc.
India's geographical situation is unique for crops due to many favorable conditions such as flat areas, fertile soil, a long growing season, and a wide range of climatic conditions, among other things.
Here is the list of different types of crops in India
1. Types of crops based on seasons
- Kharif crops
- Rabi crops
- Zaid crops
2. Types of Crops Based on Cultivation
- Cash crop
- Food crop
- Horticulture crop
- Plantation crop
Let's understand all the types of crops more deeply
Types of crops based on seasons
1. Kharif crops
Kharif crops are also called monsoon crops as they are usually sown in the month of June - July and get harvested in the month of the rainy season that is from September to October.
- The monsoon arrives differently in several states. Sometimes the exact month also varies from state to state.
- They are regarded as ideal for seeding since the crops need a warm, humid temperature for germination, and also require an abundance of water.
- For instance, seeds may be seeded in the southern states by the end of May, whereas they are often shown in the northeastern states by the end of June.
- They are mostly cultivated in regions that require sufficient rainfall such as Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.
Here is the list of all the Kharif crops:
- Rice
- Sugarcane
- Cotton
- Maize
- Groundnut
- Bajra
Also Read: Types and Methods of Organic Farming
2. Rabi crops
Rabi crops are also addressed as winter crops because they are the agricultural crops that are sown in the winter season and harvested in the spring season.
- Rabi crop gets its name from the Arabic language which means spring and is commonly used to refer to the winter months of October through December and the spring months of April through May when harvesting takes place.
- It also supports the agricultural economy as it is an important source of income for agriculture. Rainfall patterns have no effect on rabi crops.
- Rabi crops are mostly cultivated in Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, West Bengal, Odisha etc.
Here is the list of all the rabi crops:
- Wheat
- Barley
- Mustard
- Oats
- Grams
- Peas
3. Zaid crops
Zaid crops are mostly grown in the month of winter and monsoon is in the month of summer seasons. Zaid is one of the three major cropping seasons in India.
- They grow for a short period between the Kharif and rabi crops, primarily from March to June, and require warm, dry weather and some rainfall during their growth period.
- Zaid crops are grown for a short period of time as they mature quickly allowing for a rapid turnover and enabling farmers to plant subsequent crops afterward.
- Zaid crops are found abundantly in the states like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Maharashtra.
Here is the list of all the zaid crops in India:
- Bitter gourd
- Fodder
- Pumpkin
- Guar (Cluster Beans)
- Strawberry
- Arhar (Pigeon pea)
Types of Crops Based on Cultivation
1. Cash crops
- Cash crops are mainly grown for commercial use which means that they are cultivated for selling into the market, rather than for personal consumption or use on the farm.
- It supports the farmers' employee opportunities and sets a standard for the Indian agricultural economy for international trade.
Here is the list of all the cash crops
- Cotton
- Sugar
- Tea
- Coffee
- Tobacco
- Spices
- Oilseeds
- Jute
- Rubber
- Fruits
Also Read: Types of Soil in India
2. Food crops
- Food crops are mainly used for the self-consumption that can be eaten and sold according to the sustainability of farmers' use.
- Food crops are crucial for domestic consumption and play a significant role in feeding the population. They are subsistence crops that are meant for human consumption.
Here is the list of all the food crops
- Rice
- Wheat
- Maize
- Pulses
- Millets
- Vegetables
3. Plantation Crop
- These crops are cultivated in a large scale area in a continuous way that is cultivated primarily for commercial purposes and managed either by the individual or company.
- As it is practiced on a large scale, it requires a big work staff and area for commercial farming.
Here is the list of all the plantation crops:
4. Horticulture crops
- Horticultural crops are plants that are cultivated for food, medicinal, ornamental, or other uses, typically in gardens, farms, or greenhouses.
- It is the cultivation of plants for use in food production, comfort, and aesthetics that are divided into several categories based on their characteristics and uses.
Here is the list of horticulture crops:
- Vegetables
- Trees
- Flowers
- Turf
- Bushes
- Fruits
- Nuts
Major crops grown in India
The major crops grown in India can be broadly classified into food crops, cash crops, and horticultural crops. Here is the list of 5 major crops that are grown in India:
- Rice
- wheat
- Maize
- Cotton
- Sugarcane
- Jute
1. Rice
- Rice is a type of Kharif crop that grows in temperatures above 25°C, high humidity, and annual rainfall above 100 cm.
- India is the second largest rice-producing country after China as Indians are so fond of rice. It is also the biggest exporter globally.
- Rice requires heavy rainfall for cultivation and needs heavy irrigation in areas where rainfall is low.
- Unpolished rice has high nutritional value, being rich in Vitamins A, B, and Calcium, while Polished rice lacks these vitamins.
- Rice is a staple food majorly produced in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Odisha, Bihar, etc.
Also Read: Types of Irrigation Systems in India
2. Wheat
- Wheat is also a staple food which is a type of rabi crop that is sown in the months of winter October through December and spring months of April through May when harvesting takes place.
- It is a temperate crop that requires a cool climate with moderate rainfall. Although it is highly adaptable and can be grown in the tropics.
- After rice, Indians mostly prefer wheat as their staple food not only in India but also in countries like America and Germany.
- Wheat is rich in Calcium, Thiamine, Riboflavin, and Iron. and fibre which maintain the overall health of individuals.
- The major states where wheat is produced abundantly are Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Madhya Pradesh.
3. Maize
- Maize is also known as corn and is also addressed with the name queen of cereal at the global level because of its high genetic yield potential among cereals.
- It is the third most important food crop after rice and wheat. It serves as both food and fodder. Along with this, it is a key raw material for various industrial products.
- Maize is a rainfed Kharif crop primarily grown in regions with semi-arid conditions and cultivated in areas with more than 100 cm of rainfall.
- Maize is mostly rich in carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
- States like Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Rajasthan produce maize on a large scale.
4. Cotton
- Cotton is the most important fiber crop. It has a higher demand in the summer season. It is the most common cash crop that helps to support the agricultural economy of the country.
- Cotton is a tropical and sub-tropical crop. It requires high temperatures from 21°C to 30°C and grows well within the average annual rainfall range of 50-100 cm.
- It is also a kharif crop that takes a long period of time to mature, around 8 months.
- Cotton grows in alluvial soils of the Sutlej-Ganga Plain and Red and Laterite soils of the Peninsular region.
- Mostly grown in states called Haryana, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh.
5. Jute
- Jute crops are the most demanding fiber crop after cotton in India due to their low price, softness, and strength. Mostly swon in the month of February, and harvested in October.
- Growing the crop requires a lot of water. Sowing and raising saplings are carried out in the pre-monsoon season with 25 cm to 55 cm of rainfall. Hence it is also known as the kharif crop.
- The most jute-producing states are West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha.