The term "Zaid" refers to the summer cropping season in India. It begins after the harvesting of Rabi crops (like wheat) and concludes before the arrival of the monsoon rains that signal the start of the Kharif season (like rice).
Despite their advantages, Zaid crops also face several challenges: zaid crop
| Feature | Kharif | Rabi | Zaid | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Monsoon | Winter | Summer (between Rabi & Kharif) | | Sowing | June–July | October–December | March–April | | Harvest | September–October | March–April | June–July | | Rainfall | Relies on monsoon | Relies on winter rains/irrigation | Requires assured irrigation | | Examples | Rice, cotton, maize | Wheat, barley, mustard | Watermelon, cucumber, summer moong | The term "Zaid" refers to the summer cropping