Kharif and Rabi Crops in India

• India is a leading producer and exporter of tea, ranking second only to China as of 2015-2016.
• Land under agriculture is decreasing due to increasing population, leading to:
  • Decreased land size
  • Reduced production
  • Increased poverty for farmers
  • Endangering food security
  • Non-receipt of raw materials for industries

Kharif Crops

• Kharif crops are sown with the onset of the monsoon season in different regions and harvested in September-October.
• Main Kharif crops include rice, maize, jowar, bajra, turmoong, urad, cotton, jute, groundnut, and soyabean.
• Kharif crops are also known as monsoon crops.
• Kharif crops include cereals and pulses such as rice, wheat, jowar, maize, millet, gram, tur, and other pulses, which serve as main sources of food items.
• Kharif season starts with the arrival of the monsoon.
• Kharif crops take less time to ripen.
• Per hectare production of Kharif crops is low.

Rabi Crops

• Rabi crops are sown in autumn after the monsoon season and harvested in March-April.
• Main Rabi crops include wheat, barley, gram, mustard, and linseed like oilseeds.
• Rabi crops take a relatively longer time to ripen.
• .Per hectare production of Rabi crops is high.

Factors Promoting Globalisation in India

• Technological improvements in the past 50 years, such as container use in transportation, have reduced costs and increased speed to reach markets.
• Telecommunication facilities enable global communication and allow for instant electronic mail at negligible costs.
• The Indian government's removal of trade barriers, called liberalization, has facilitated the export and import of goods and services
• This has permitted multinational corporations to establish factories and offices in India, fostering greater integration of production and markets across countries.

Buffer Stock

• Buffer stock is the reserve of food grains, specifically wheat and rice, stored in granaries.
• It is produced by the government through the Food Corporation of India (FCI) from states with surplus production.
• Farmers receive a pre-announced price for their crops, known as the Minimum Support Price.