The Top 5 Monsoon Crops in India
Monsoon is a crucial season in India, providing much-needed rainfall to sustain agricultural activities. The abundance of water during this period makes it ideal for growing certain crops. The top five monsoon crops in India are cotton, tea, rice, pulses, and sugarcane.
Let’s explore more into why these crops thrive during the monsoon, their suitability in terms of soil conditions and irrigation requirements, seedbed preparation, time required for harvesting, and the agricultural implements needed for successful cultivation.
Here is the list of monsoon crops in India:
- Cotton
- Tea
- Rice
- Pulses
- Sugarcane
Let’s know more about these monsoon crops in India.
Cotton
Cotton is a staple crop in India, and the monsoon season offers excellent conditions for its growth. It requires well-drained, sandy loam soil with good water-holding capacity. Adequate irrigation is crucial during the initial stage, but the monsoon showers reduce the need for additional watering. Seedbed preparation involves plowing and leveling the soil before sowing. Cotton takes around 150 to 180 days to mature, depending on the variety. While mechanized cotton-pickers are commonly used for harvesting, manual labor is also prevalent.
Tea
Tea cultivation thrives during the monsoon due to the cooler temperatures and high humidity. The crop prefers acidic soils with good drainage and high organic matter content. Adequate irrigation is essential, and the monsoon rains fulfill this requirement. Before planting, the seedbed is prepared by clearing the land of weeds and other unwanted vegetation. Tea bushes take around three to four years to mature for harvesting. Hand plucking is the preferred method for tea harvest, and advanced agricultural implements are used for processing the leaves.
Rice
Rice is a major monsoon crop in India, as it requires large amounts of water for its growth. It grows well in clayey and loamy soils with good water retention capacity. Paddy fields are flooded during the monsoon season to provide the necessary moisture. Before sowing, the field is plowed, leveled, and puddled to create a suitable seedbed. Depending on the variety, rice takes around 90 to 150 days to reach maturity. Harvesting is typically done manually using sickles or mechanical harvesters.
Pulses
Pulses, such as lentils, chickpeas, and mung beans, are well-suited for monsoon cultivation. They prefer well-drained loamy soil. Adequate moisture is crucial during the early growth stage, and the monsoon rains provide this requirement. Before sowing, the seedbed is prepared by plowing and leveling the soil. The time required for pulses to mature varies between 60 to 120 days, depending on the specific type. Harvesting is typically done manually, and threshing machines are used to separate the grains from the pods.
Sugarcane
Sugarcane is a water-intensive crop that thrives during the monsoon season. It requires well-drained sandy loam or clayey soils. Adequate irrigation is necessary during the initial stages, but the monsoon rainfall reduces the need for additional watering. The seedbed is prepared by plowing and leveling the field. Sugarcane takes approximately 12 to 18 months to mature, depending on the variety. Harvesting is done manually, with specialized machinery used for juice extraction and sugar processing.
Conclusion
The monsoon season in India presents a unique opportunity for agricultural growth, and these top five monsoon crops showcase the benefits of cultivating during this period. Cotton, tea, rice, pulses, and sugarcane all are monsoon crops in India and they have specific soil and irrigation requirements that are fulfilled by the ample rainfall during the monsoon. By harnessing the power of the monsoon season, farmers can maximize their yields and contribute to the country's agricultural prosperity.
FAQs
What is a monsoon crop?
Monsoon crops are also known as kharif crops. The time period for these crops is June to October. The farming for these crops starts with the beginning of monsoon and harvested at the end of the rainy season. Kharif crops require more rainfall than the rabi crops.
What is the difference between rabi and kharif crops?
Kharif crops are monsoon crops, they are sown at the beginning of the rainy season in India. Whereas the rabi crops are sown in the winters. They both have different requirements in terms of temperature, moisture, soil and weather conditions.
Is Maize a kharif crop or rabi crop?
Maize is a crop that can be grown in any season, depending upon the soil conditions. Some farmers grow it as a monsoon crop (Kharif) and some as a winter crop (Rabi).
What are the other monsoon crops?
Other than major monsoon crops i.e. rice, cotton, sugarcane, pulses, and tea, there are other monsoon crops such as maize, jute, soybean, millet, ragi, pulses, soybean, groundnut, etc.
