If you live in India—or have studied its agriculture—you have likely heard the terms and Kharif . But what do they actually mean, and why do they matter for everything from the price of onions to the health of the economy?

Let’s break down the differences between the winter harvest and the summer harvest. Translation: The word "Kharif" comes from Arabic, meaning "autumn" (since crops are harvested in autumn).

Have you ever wondered why you see farmers busy in the fields right after the first rains in June, but also notice a different kind of hustle as winter sets in around October?

Did we miss your favorite crop? Let us know in the comments below!

The next time you bite into a hot roti (made from Rabi wheat) or a plate of steamed rice (made from Kharif paddy), you will know exactly which season brought that food to your plate.

Simply put, these are the two main cropping seasons in the Indian subcontinent. They are dictated by one of the most powerful forces of nature: .