Punjab is the land of hard-working farmers. Agriculture is the main occupation of the Punjabi people. Punjab is known as the Food Basket of India. This state played an important role in the green revolution in India, which began in 1968 under the leadership of Lal Bahadur Shastri and Indira Gandhi. By 1970, Punjab was producing 70% of India’s food grains, and farmers’ incomes were rising by more than 70%. Punjab’s success during the Green Revolution became a model for other states. Punjab has been a leader in agricultural development and food production in India since gaining independence.
Punjab’s fertile soil and subtropical location are ideal for agriculture. According to a report at Statista, the state is responsible for producing 15% to 17% of India’s wheat. A large variety of crops is grown in Punjab
Punjab is also a major contributor to rice production in India, producing around 12% of the country’s rice. In 2021-2022, Punjab contributed 20% of the total rice procured by the Food Corporation of India. In 2023, Punjab produced more than 13 million metric tons of rice. However, paddy cultivation in Punjab has also raised concerns about groundwater levels. Groundwater levels began to drop in central Punjab and parts of Haryana due to paddy cultivation, which worries Punjabis. Now, the government and farmers are finding alternatives for paddy.
The main Crops Grown in Punjab during the Kharif and Rabi seasons
In the Punjabi language, the Kharif and Rabi season is also known as Harri and Sauni, which are the summer and winter harvest seasons. In India, the agricultural crop cycle runs from May to June and is divided into two main seasons based on the monsoon.
The main crops grown in Punjab during the summer and winter seasons are mentioned below:
Crops Grown during the Kharif or Summer Season in Punjab
The Kharif monsoon season runs from July to October. The principal crops grown in Punjab are:
Paddy:
Paddy crop cultivation starts at the start of the rainy season. Paddy plantation starts at the end of May. It becomes ready to be planted in the field after the 10th of June. The rice crop is ready to be harvested in the first week of October.
Maize (Corn)
Maize can be grown in both seasons: Kharif (monsoon), post-monsoon, Rabi (winter), and spring. During Kharif, it is desirable to sow two weeks before monsoon onset.
Bajra (Millet)
The millet crop is sown 15 days before the onset of monsoon, around mid-June.
Cotton
The time of sowing of cotton varies in Punjab. Mostly, it is sown in April, and the crop gets ready by August.
Pulses
In Punjab, mainly green gram (moong), black gram (mash), pigeon pea (arhar), gram (chickpea and chhole), soybean, and lentil (massar) pulses are cultivated.
Ragi
Ragi is also grown in Punjab during the Kharif season.
Other crops
Other kharif crops include bajra, jowar, groundnut, soybean, and turmeric.
Crops that Grow during the Rabi or Winter Season in Punjab
The winter season runs from October to April, so the crops that are grown in the winter season are:
Wheat
Wheat is the main crop in the winter or Rabi season. It is sown from November to December and harvested in April.
Barley
Barley is also an important cereal crop. It is primarily grown in the Indian state of Punjab. It is cultivated during the rabi season (winter).
Mustard (rapeseed)
Rapeseed or Mustard is an important oilseed crop grown in Punjab during October and November. It is harvested at the start of March.
Sunflower
Sunflower is also grown in many areas of Punjab after potatoes. It is sown in March and gets ready for harvesting in mid-June.
Sugarcane
In Punjab, sugarcane is planted during two main seasons: from September to October and from February to March. The crop takes approximately one year to mature. January and February are the best for cutting sugarcane plants.
Linseed
In Punjab, linseed is a rabi crop (winter crop). It is typically sown from mid-October to mid-November.
Other important Rabi crops and vegetables include potato, onion, muskmelon, and various vegetables like cauliflower and fenugreek.
These are the main crops that Punjabi farmers grow in the summer and winter seasons. Punjab has different agricultural land and soil, so the farmers choose crops according to the weather and zone.
