Indian Corps

Major Crops in India and Their Seasons

1. Kharif

The Kharif crop is the summer crop or monsoon crop in India. Kharif crops are usually sown with the beginning of the first rains in July, during the south-west monsoon season.
Millets (Bajra and Jowar)
Paddy (Rice)
Maize
Moong (Pulses)
Groundnut
Red Chillies
Cotton
Soyabean
Sugarcane
Turmeric
2. Rabi Crop
The Rabi crop is the spring harvest or winter crop in India . It is sown in October last and harvested in March April every year.
Wheat
Barley
Mustard
Sesame
Peas
3. Zaid Crop:

This crop is grown in some parts of country during March to June
Muskmelon
Watermelon
Vegetables (cucurbitacae family like bitter gourd, pumpkin, ridged gourd etc. )

Three Largest Producing states of various Crops during 2006-07

Food Grains:
Rice: West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh
Wheat: Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana
Maize : Karnataka , Andhra Pradesh, Bihar
Total Coarse Cereals: Maharashtra , Rajasthan, Karnataka
Total Pulses : Madhya Pradesh , Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh
Total Foodgrains : Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh
Oil Seeds:
Groundnut: Gujarat, Tamil Nadu , Andhra Pradesh
Rapeseed & Mustard: Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana
Soyabean : Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan
Sunflower Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh , Maharashtra
Total Oilseeds : Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra
Cash Crops:
Sugarcane: Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu
Cotton : Gujarat , Maharashtra , Punjab
Jute & Mesta : West Bengal, Bihar, Assam
Potato: Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Punjab
Onion: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka
source : Indiabudget.nic.in

Minimum Support Prices

Keeping in view the interests of the farmers as also the need for self reliance, the Government of India has been announcing Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for major crops from year to year. Farmers are free to sell in the open market or to the Government at the MSP depending on what is more advantageous to them. The price support policy of the Govt. is directed at providing to insurance to farmers against any sharp fall in farm prices. The minimum price is fixed beyond which the market price cannot fall.

The government announces MSP for 26 crops.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has revised the minimum support price for Rabi crops on January 29, 2009. The revised MSP for Rabi Crops for Year 2008-09 is as follows:
1. Wheat : 1080 (1000 in 2007-08)
2. Barley : 680 (650 in 2007-08)
3. Gram: 1730 (1600 in 2007-08)
4. Masoor: 1870 (1700 in 2007-08)
5. Mustard rapeseed: 1830 (1800 in 2007-08)
6. Safflower: 1650 (1650 in 2007-08)

MSP for Kharif Crops:
1. Common Paddy : 900+
2. Paddy Grade A : 930+
3. Maize : 840
4. Bajra / Jawar : 840
5. Arhar : 2000
6. Moong / Urad : 2520
7. Ground nut : 2100
8. Soyabean Black 1350
9. Soyabean Yellow : 1390
10. Sunflower : 2215
11. Sesamum : 2750
12. Nigerseed : 2405
13. Cotton (Medium Staple) : 2500
14. Cotton ( Long Staple ) : 3000
+ with bonus of Rs. 100
Farmers will get Rs.50 incentive per quintal of paddy over and above MSP (minimum support price) for the entire season during 2008-09. This decision was taken at the meeting of CCEA on October 16, 2009

source:www.gktoday.in