What are Kharif and Rabi Crops ?

I remember those two names from my school days. What I just remember is that those were two kinds of crops we have it in India but nothing about their precise meaning. Hence just revisited those two points for my record.

Kharif are the crops which are sown in the beginning of the first rains in India i.e from July onwards.

Rabi crops are usually sown from November onwards

For Example following is the farming landscape in Maharashtra

Kharif Crops:- Jowar (Sorghum), Bajra (Millet), Rice, Cotton, Groundnuts
Rabi Crops: - Wheat, Gram, Jowar

Other Categories
Cereals: - Jowar, Rice, Wheat, Bajra, Maize, Bali, Nachni
Oil seeds: - Groundnut, Sesame, Jawas, Karadi, Mustard.
Pulses:  Dal, Tur (Red gram)
Cash Crops: - Sugarcane, Cotton, Chillies, Tobacco, Banana.



Misc:

Major crops in the world :
http://www.usda.gov/oce/weather/pubs/Other/MWCACP/index.htm


Major Crops in South Asia
In India, which crop in which area, in which month ?
http://www.usda.gov/oce/weather/pubs/Other/MWCACP/world_crop_country.htm#southasia

World Facts and figures of Global Crops.
Ex of wheat grown in the world
Map
http://www.pecad.fas.usda.gov/ogamaps/default.cfm?cmdty=Wheat&attribute=Production

Stats
http://www.fas.usda.gov/psdonline/psdreport.aspx?hidReportRetrievalName=BVS&hidReportRetrievalID=448&hidReportRetrievalTemplateID=1

Production, Supply and Distribution Online
http://www.fas.usda.gov/psdonline/psdHome.aspx


Major Crops, World Calender
http://www.fas.usda.gov/pecad/weather/Crop_calendar/crop_cal.pdf

Northern India's Vanishing Water
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2009-124&CFID=20175607&CFTOKEN=61e74d0437cb07fb-18AF0895-C49D-DD99-D4A7C845DFDF0419

World Weather chart of major cities
http://www.mapsofworld.com/utilities/world-weather-chart.htm

World Climates
http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/climate.htm

UK Sowing and Harvesting time for vegetables
http://www.allotment.org.uk/vegetable/general/sowing-harvest-vegetable-chart.php

How to grow
http://www.gardeningdata.co.uk/vegetables/sowing_how_to_c.php

Farming in Manipur
http://hortimanipur.nic.in/vegetables.htm
http://www.webindia123.com/garden/vegie/index.htm

Harvest festivals in world
http://www.everythingesl.net/lessons/harvest_festivals_around_world_79423.php

SOWING AND HARVESTING SEASONS
OF PRINCIPAL CROPS IN INDIA
http://www.fadinap.org/india/Sowing.htm

Testing Soil
http://www.mahindrakisanmitra.com/ContentPage.aspx?lang=1&CategoryId=22