. In southern regions like Kerala, sowing may start as early as May, while in northern states, it can extend into July. Harvesting Season: Generally occurs between September and October

One spring morning, Riya watched Bauji examining the sky. The air was dry, the earth hard. “Bauji,” she asked, “why are you looking at the clouds? There are none.”

Seeds are broadcasted (scattered by hand) or drilled using seed drills. For rice, nurseries are prepared 4–6 weeks before transplanting the seedlings into flooded fields.

The undisputed king of Kharif. India is the world’s second-largest producer of rice, and most of it is grown during this season. The sight of a flooded paddy field—known as a "paddyscape"—is the iconic image of the Indian monsoon.