The Harappan civilization had a well-developed agricultural system, with crops cultivated based on regional climatic conditions. Archaeological evidence confirms the presence of all five crops: rice, wheat, barley, jowar, and bajra in different phases of civilization.
Wheat & Barley: These were the primary food crops of the Harappans. Excavations at sites like Mehrgarh, Harappa, Mohenjo-Daro, and Kalibangan have provided ample evidence of their cultivation.
Rice: Although wheat and barley were more common, rice has been discovered at Lothal and Rangpur, embedded in pottery. The earliest evidence comes from Rojdi during the early Mature Harappan period. Rice was also present in Cemetery H levels at Harappa and in Late Harappan sites such as Hulas.
Bajra (Pearl Millet): Evidence of bajra cultivation comes from Babar Kot (Saurashtra, Gujarat) in the late third millennium BCE. It later spread to Rangpur and reached South India after 1800 BCE.
Jowar (Sorghum): Jowar was an important crop at Rojdi during the second millennium BCE. It was also reported at Pirak and Late Harappan Hulas in the post-urban phase.
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