♤ Declining importance of Kharif crops

The share of Kharif has declined from 71 per cent in the 1970’s to 49 percent in 2015-16. The share of Rabi foodgrain production in total foodgrain production of the country has increased from 36.4% in 1970-71 to 50.83% in

2015-16.

Reason: The Kharif crops are not reliable because they are mostly dependent on monsoon rainfall which in itself is unreliable.

Contrary to this, mostly Rabi crops in India are raised on irrigation which offers a degree of reliability.