Kharif Crops — Rice, Maize & Millets
Kharif season crops of Uttar Pradesh including rice, maize, bajra, arhar, and sugarcane with varieties, districts, and production data for UPSSSC AGTA exam.
Introduction
Kharif crops are sown at the onset of the southwest monsoon (June-July) and harvested in October-November. In Uttar Pradesh, kharif season is dominated by rice (dhan), which occupies the largest area after wheat. The monsoon's performance directly determines kharif output, making this season inherently more risk-prone than rabi.
Kharif Season Calendar in UP
| Stage | Timing |
|---|---|
| Land preparation | May-June |
| Sowing / Transplanting | June-July |
| Growing period | July-September |
| Harvesting | October-November |
| Monsoon influence | Southwest monsoon (June-September) |
Rice (Dhan) — The Principal Kharif Crop
Rice is the second most important cereal in UP after wheat by production, but it occupies the largest kharif area.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| National rank | 2nd largest producer (after West Bengal) |
| Production | ~15-16 million MT |
| Area | ~55-60 lakh hectares |
| Transplanting | June-July (after monsoon onset) |
| Harvest | October-November |
Major Rice-Growing Districts
| Region | Key Districts |
|---|---|
| Eastern UP | Gorakhpur, Basti, Azamgarh, Jaunpur, Ghazipur, Ballia |
| North-Eastern | Bahraich, Gonda, Siddharthnagar |
| Terai | Pilibhit, Lakhimpur Kheri |
| Central | Sitapur, Hardoi |
Eastern and north-eastern UP together account for over 60% of the state's rice production.
Important Rice Varieties in UP
| Variety | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Sarjoo-52 | Most popular traditional variety, medium duration |
| IR-36 | Early maturing, disease-resistant |
| Type-3 | Fine grain, Basmati-type aroma |
| Pusa Basmati-1 | Premium aromatic rice, western UP |
| NDR-359 | Developed by NDUA&T, flood-tolerant |
| Swarna | High yielding, late maturing, eastern UP |
Basmati rice is grown in western UP (Saharanpur, Bijnor, Muzaffarnagar) as a premium export crop.
Maize (Makka)
Maize is the second most important kharif cereal in UP after rice.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Area | ~8-9 lakh hectares |
| Production | ~2-3 million MT |
| Key districts | Azamgarh, Ghazipur, Ballia, Bahraich, Sultanpur |
| Uses | Animal feed, corn flour, poultry feed, starch industry |
| Baby corn | Growing commercial production in western UP |
Maize is increasingly used for poultry feed manufacturing, and UP's expanding poultry industry is driving demand upward.
Bajra (Pearl Millet)
Bajra is the primary millet crop in UP, grown in semi-arid regions of western and south-western UP.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Key districts | Agra, Aligarh, Mathura, Bulandshahr |
| Rainfall requirement | 300-600 mm (drought-tolerant) |
| Nutritional value | High in iron, zinc, protein |
| National push | 2023 — International Year of Millets |
Bajra is increasingly promoted under the National Millet Mission for its nutritional superiority and climate resilience.
Arhar / Tur Dal (Pigeon Pea)
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Kharif pulse (180-270 day duration) |
| Key districts | Eastern UP (Sultanpur, Pratapgarh) and Bundelkhand (Hamirpur, Banda) |
| National rank | UP is among top 5 arhar-producing states |
| Sowing | June-July |
| Harvest | January-February (long-duration crop) |
Arhar is often grown as an intercrop with maize or sorghum, maximizing land use efficiency.
Sugarcane — The 12-18 Month Kharif Crop
Though technically planted in the kharif season (February-March or October), sugarcane is a long-duration crop (12-18 months) that spans multiple seasons.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Planting season | Spring (Feb-Mar) or Autumn (Oct) |
| Duration | 12-18 months |
| Harvest | October-March (crushing season) |
| UP's national share | ~50% of India's production |
Covered in detail in Lesson 80 (Sugarcane & Sugar Industry).
Other Kharif Crops
| Crop | Key Districts | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Soybean | Bundelkhand (Jhansi, Lalitpur) | Expanding oilseed crop |
| Urad (Black Gram) | Eastern UP, Bundelkhand | Short-duration pulse |
| Moong (Green Gram) | Central and eastern UP | Zaid + Kharif |
| Til (Sesame) | Bundelkhand, Hamirpur | Traditional oilseed |
| Okra (Bhindi) | All districts | Major kharif vegetable |
| Cucurbits | Alluvial plains, river beds | Watermelon, bottle gourd, cucumber |
Challenges of Kharif Season in UP
| Challenge | Impact |
|---|---|
| Erratic monsoon | Delayed or deficit rainfall causes crop failure |
| Flooding | Eastern UP rivers (Ghaghra, Rapti, Gandak) inundate paddy fields |
| Pest attacks | Brown plant hopper, stem borer in rice |
| Waterlogging | Terai and north-eastern plains |
| Stubble issue | Post-harvest rice stubble burning causes pollution |
Key Takeaways
- Rice is UP's principal kharif crop — state ranks 2nd nationally (after West Bengal)
- Eastern and north-eastern UP produce >60% of UP's rice
- Sarjoo-52 is the most widely grown rice variety; Basmati is grown in western UP
- Bajra is the main millet, grown in semi-arid western UP (Agra, Mathura belt)
- Arhar (tur dal) is a long-duration kharif pulse grown in eastern UP and Bundelkhand
- Erratic monsoon and flooding are the biggest kharif season risks
Summary Cheat Sheet
| Crop | UP Rank | Key Districts | Variety |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rice | 2nd (after WB) | Gorakhpur, Basti, Azamgarh | Sarjoo-52, Type-3 |
| Maize | — | Azamgarh, Ghazipur, Ballia | — |
| Bajra | — | Agra, Aligarh, Mathura | Drought-tolerant millet |
| Arhar | Top 5 | Sultanpur, Pratapgarh, Banda | Long-duration pulse |
| Sugarcane | 1st | Lakhimpur Kheri, Muzaffarnagar | Co 0238 |
| Basmati Rice | — | Saharanpur, Bijnor | Pusa Basmati-1 |
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