India, being a country with diverse climatic conditions, has several seasons of farming. The planting time for the crops varies depending on the type of crop, seasons, region, and climate. In India, crops are commonly classified into three seasons of planting which are Kharif, Rabi, and Zaid. Kharif season, also known as the monsoon season typically starts in June and ends in September. Rabi season or winter season runs from October to March. Zaid or Summer cropping season runs from March to June. The different seasons of farming in India provide an opportunity for farmers to diversify their crops and income sources, contributing to the overall agricultural growth of the country.
The total area under cultivation of summer or zaid crops has increased progressively 2.7 times from 29.71 lakh hectares in the year 2017 – 18 to 80.46 lakh hectares in 2020 – 21. By following proper management techniques and investing in the right crops, farmers can increase their yield and profit margins during the summer season.
Zaid or Summer Cropping Season:
Zaid crops are the crops grown during the summer season from March to June. They are short-duration crops mostly comprising hybrids. Crops that are adapted to the hot and dry weather conditions of summer are planted in this season. The crops that require warmer weather for vegetative growth and longer day length for reproductive growth such as cucumber, watermelon, muskmelon, bhendi, bitter gourd, brinjal, black gram, green gram, pumpkin, and tomato are usually grown during the zaid season.
Explore why growing zaid crops can be a smart choice:
Some of the features of crops grown in the zaid/summer season include:
- Summer crops have a short growing duration and can be harvested within 60 – 90 days after sowing. This allows farmers to grow multiple crops in a year, increasing their income.
- These crops can withstand hot and dry conditions of the summer season and are typically drought and heat-stress tolerant.
- Zaid crops require less water than kharif and rabi crops, thus making them suitable for cultivation in areas with limited water availability.
- Despite their short duration, zaid crops can give higher yields if proper management practices are followed.
- They can provide an additional source of income for farmers during the lean period between kharif and rabi seasons
- Zaid crops are less prone to pests and diseases, as the dry conditions of the summer season make it difficult for pests and diseases to thrive.
- Zaid crops such as watermelon and muskmelon have high market demand during the summer season, which can provide good returns for the farmers.
- The cultivation of summer crops helps to improve soil health. For instance, growing leguminous pulses and oilseeds can act as soil conditioners.
- Growing these crops helps in the diversification of agriculture by reducing the dependence on a single crop. This can help mitigate the risk of crop failure due to factors such as climate change, pests, and disease infestation.
- Farmers can compensate for the losses incurred due to heavy rainfall during the kharif and rabi seasons by the cultivation of summer crops.
- Many zaid crops such as watermelon, cucumber, muskmelon, pumpkin, and bitter gourd are rich in vitamins and minerals, thus making them a nutritional addition to the diet.
- Summer crops such as maize and soybean are used as animal feed.
Maximize the yield of your summer crops by using these hybrid seeds:
| Summer Crops | Hybrids/Varieties |
| Brinjal | VNR 212 brinjal, Janak Brinjal, Parul brinjal, Fito purple brinjal, Mokta Moti brinjal, VNR 125 brinjal, Sungro gulshan brinjal, Harsh brinjal |
| Pumpkin | Arjuna pumpkin, IRIS hybrid vegetable seeds F1 hybrid pumpkin IHS-205, MAHY 1 pumpkin seeds, URJA US -101 – pumpkin F-1 hybrid seeds, Rudraksh F1 Parker Pumpkin, F1 Hybrid Pumpkin Lattu – 1066, URJA Amrit Pumpkin seeds |
| Bittergourd | VNR Katahi bitter gourd, US-1315 bitter gourd, Abhishek bitter gourd, NS 1024 bitter gourd, Pragati 065 F1 bitter gourd, US 33 bitter gourd, Amanshri bitter gourd, Pan 1911 bitter gourd, US 6214 bitter gourd |
| Watermelon | NS 295 watermelon, AFA 306 watermelon, Anmol yellow watermelon, Apoorva watermelon, URJA US-888 watermelon F1 Hybrid seeds, IRIS hybrid fruit seeds watermelon, Arun 0035 watermelon, Pakeeza watermelon, PAN 2053 Spl hybrid watermelon seeds |
| Cucumber | Krish F1 hybrid cucumber, NS 404 cucumber seeds, Hiranya Sambar cucumber, Sania cucumber, Zoya cucumber, Mini Angel cucumber, Malini cucumber, PAN Madhuri hybrid cucumber green |
| Muskmelon | Madhuraja Muskmelon, Urja Kajri Muskmelon, Mridula Muskmelon, Urja US-111 Muskmelon, Sanvi Muskmelon, MH 38 Muskmelon, Rudraksh Arjun Muskmelon, FB Misthan F1 Hybrid Muskmelon |
| Bhendi | Raadhika bhendi, Navya bhendi, Kumkum bhendi, Singham bhendi, NS 862 bhendi, NS 7774 bhendi, Samrat bhendi, PAN 2127 hybrid bhendi, Venus plus bhendi |
| Tomato | Saaho tomato, Abhilash tomato, NS 4266 tomato, Heemshikhar tomato, Heemsohna tomato, To – 3150 tomato, JK Desi tomato seeds, US 440 tomato, Polyana tomato, Lakshmi tomato |
| Maize/Corn | Pioneer Agro Corn seeds, Rise-303 shine hybrid maize seeds, Rise-202 Shine Hybrid Maize seeds, |
| Chilli | Armour chilli F1, Royal bullet chilli, US 341 chilli, Yashaswini chilli, Sarpan – 102 byadgi chilli, HPH 5531 chilli, NS 1101 chilli, Navtej MHCP-319 chilli, Devsena 88 chilli |
| Bottle gourd | Haruna bottle gourd, PAN 1719 hybrid bottle gourd, Kaveri bottle gourd, Manya bottle gourd, Indam bottle gourd, PAN bottle gourd 16000, IRIS hybrid vegetable seeds F1 hybrid bottle gourd mumtaj round. |
Conclusion:
Summer crops play a vital role in ensuring food security and supporting the livelihoods of farmers in many regions. While challenges such as water scarcity and high temperatures may make summer crop cultivation more difficult. Choosing the right crops, seeds, and cultivation techniques can help increase yield and maximize profits. Zaid or summer season crops, such as watermelon, cucumber, and muskmelon can provide farmers with an opportunity to diversify their income and adopt sustainable farming practices. Additionally, buying the right variety or hybrid seeds can help ensure optimal yield and make summer crop growth profitable.