Kharif crop

The words kharif and rabi both have their origins in the Arabic language. These came to be used in India with the ascent of the Mughal Empire in the Indian subcontinent and have been widely used ever since. Kharif literally means 'autumn' in Arabic, since this period coincides with the beginning of autumn in the Indian subcontinent; the monsoonal sowing season is called the kharif period. The kharif season varies by crop and region, starting at the earliest in May and ending at the latest in January. In India the season is popularly considered to start in June and to end in October. Kharif crops are usually sown with the beginning of the first rains during the advent of the south-west monsoon season, and they are harvested at the end of monsoon season (October-November). Monsoon sowing dates vary, occurring toward the end of May in the southern state of Kerala and reaching July in some north Indian states. In other regions like Maharashtra, the west coast of India, and Pakistan, which receive rains in June, kharif crops are sown in May, June and July. In Bangladesh, kharif crops are usually sown with the beginning of the first rains in June.