Trade · 5 min read
India's Onion Seasons: Kharif, Late Kharif and Rabi — When to Buy and Why It Matters
Three harvests, three different onions. Plan your buying around them.
Quick answer
India harvests onions in three seasons. The kharif crop is harvested from about October to December, the late-kharif crop from about January to March, and the rabi crop from about March to May. Rabi onions have thicker skins and store for months, so they supply much of the export trade through the summer and autumn. Kharif onions keep less well and are best shipped soon after harvest.
What are the three onion seasons?
- Kharif — sown with the monsoon, harvested about October to December
- Late kharif — harvested about January to March
- Rabi — sown in winter, harvested about March to May; the largest and best-storing crop
Why does the season matter to an importer?
Storage life decides how far onions can travel and how long they last on arrival. Rabi onions, stored in well-ventilated sheds, supply exports for months after harvest. Kharif onions are fresher but softer-skinned and should move quickly.
When do prices usually move?
Prices tend to firm as stored rabi stocks run down before the new kharif crop arrives, and weather that damages a crop can lift prices quickly. That is also when India is most likely to tighten export policy, so buyers plan ahead.
Frequently asked questions
Which Indian onion stores longest?
Rabi-season onions, harvested in spring, have the thickest skins and the longest storage life.
