Assertion (A): Maize is a kharif crop Reason (R): Maize is grown in rainy season (a) Both \(\mathrm{A}\) and \(\mathrm{R}\) are true and \(\mathrm{R}\) is the correct explanation for \(\mathrm{A}\). (b) Both \(\mathrm{A}\) and \(\mathrm{R}\) are true and \(\mathrm{R}\) is the not the correct explanation for \(\mathrm{A}\). (c) \(\mathrm{A}\) is true and \(\mathrm{R}\) is false (d) \(\mathrm{A}\) is false and \(\mathrm{R}\) is true

Agriculture plays a crucial role in India's economy, contributing significantly to the country's GDP and employing a large portion of the population. The diverse climate of India allows for a variety of crops to be cultivated across its extensive agricultural lands.

In India, farming practices are very dependent on the seasons, which are broadly categorized into Rabi, Kharif, and Zaid seasons. Kharif crops are sown with the onset of the first rains in July, during the southwest monsoon season, such as maize, rice, and millet. On the other hand, Rabi crops are grown in the winter from November to April, such as wheat and mustard. Zaid crops are grown between the Rabi and Kharif seasons, which include vegetables and fodder crops. The success of agriculture in India is heavily reliant on the adequate and timely arrival of the monsoon rains.

Maize, also known as corn, is one of the most versatile agricultural crops and is cultivated globally for a plethora of uses including food, feed, and biofuel. In the context of Indian agriculture, maize is deemed a Kharif crop due to its requirement for a warm and wet climate which aligns with the monsoon season in India.

Optimal Conditions for Maize Cultivation

Maize thrives in temperatures between 21°C and 27°C, with a planting depth of about 5 cm to ensure proper root growth and a spacing of around 20 cm to prevent overcrowding. It also requires adequate rainfall throughout its growing season. Farmers in India typically prepare the fields right before the monsoon to ensure that the soil is moist and fertile when the maize is sown.

Monsoon season farming is synonymous with Kharif cropping in India. The monsoon rains from June to September are critical for the farming of Kharif crops, as these crops are mostly rain-fed.

During the monsoon, farmers are engaged in sowing seeds just before or during the initial phase of the monsoon. This water-intensive period is essential as the availability of rainwater determines not only the germination of seeds but also the overall lifecycle of the crops.

Challenges In Monsoon Farming

However, monsoon agriculture is not without its challenges. It poses risks such as unpredictable rain patterns, and excessive rainfall can lead to flooding, which may damage the crops. Conversely, inadequate rainfall leads to droughts, affecting both the yield and quality of the harvest. Despite these challenges, monsoon season farming remains a vital part of India's agricultural calendar as it dictates the food production and income levels for a majority of the country's rural population.