Nursery
May to JuneSeedlings raised in seedbeds in lower Sindh districts. Paddy varieties are sown into puddled nursery plots. Heat and humidity push germination faster than in Punjab.
Crop calendar
IRRI-6 Rice Harvest Calendar: Sindh Crop Season
Lower Sindh follows the Kharif (summer) cycle: nursery May-June, transplant July-August, harvest October-November.
Quick Answer
Sindh IRRI-6 follows the Kharif (summer) crop cycle: nursery May-June, transplant July-August, harvest October-November. Sindh harvests roughly one month earlier than Punjab basmati because the warmer Sindh climate compresses each crop stage. New-crop milled IRRI-6 ships from December onward. Old-crop carry-over ships year-round.
12-month strip
A year in the Sindh paddy field.
Jan New crop ships
Feb New crop ships
Mar New crop ships
Apr Land prep
May Nursery
Jun Nursery
Jul Transplant
Aug Transplant
Sep Growing
Oct Harvest
Nov Harvest
Dec New crop ships
Nursery Transplant Growing Harvest New crop ships Land prep
Stage detail
Five stages from seedbed to bill of lading.
Transplanting
July to AugustSeedlings are pulled and transplanted into puddled main fields. Coincides with monsoon water inflow. Field labor demand peaks.
Growing season
August to OctoberVegetative and flowering stages. Monsoon-fed irrigation supplements canal water. The Indus river system supplies the bulk of the irrigation requirement.
Harvest
October to NovemberCombined harvesting in lower Sindh. Paddy moisture is taken from 22-24% in field down to 13.5% maximum in dryers. New-crop IRRI-6 paddy enters the supply chain.
Milling and shipment readiness
November to DecemberNew-crop paddy is milled into white, brown, or parboiled grades. First new-crop shipments load in December. Old-crop carry-over inventory ships year-round in parallel.
Geography
Why Sindh, not Punjab.
Sindh: IRRI-6 territory
Lower Sindh districts produce IRRI-6 long-grain non-basmati rice. The warm climate, brackish-tolerant land, and Indus delta water suit the IRRI-6 grain profile (6.0mm length, low aroma, hardy hull).
Producing districts: Badin, Thatta, Sujawal, Tando Muhammad Khan.
Harvest lands in October-November. New-crop ships from December. See IRRI-6 5% broken rice and 100% broken rice for grade-specific prices.
Punjab: 1121 Basmati territory
Upper and central Punjab produce 1121 Basmati and other aromatic long-grain rice. Cooler nights during the grain-fill stage develop the basmati aroma. The cycle runs 4-6 weeks later than Sindh.
Punjab basmati harvest typically lands in November-December. For 1121 Basmati harvest timing, see 1121 Basmati harvest calendar.
Shipment timing
How harvest timing affects shipments.
October-November harvest means new-crop IRRI-6 paddy reaches the mill in November. Milled, polished, and Sortex-cleaned new-crop white rice is ready for loading from December onward. New-crop parboiled needs an additional 7-10 days because of the soaking and steaming step.
Old-crop carry-over inventory is held in fumigated silos at 13.5% moisture maximum. Old-crop ships year-round and is functionally identical for the most common end-uses. New-crop is preferred when the buyer wants maximum aroma retention or the longest possible shelf life from origin.
Prices typically soften in November-December as new-crop floods the market. Prices firm in March-July as old-crop thins. Daily FOB Karachi figures across all 9 grades are published on the IRRI-6 daily prices page. To lock in a confirmed price, request a quote.
FAQ
Harvest calendar FAQ
New-crop IRRI-6 paddy is harvested in October-November. Milled new-crop rice is ready for loading from December onward. Old-crop inventory ships year-round in parallel, so there is no off-season for delivery.
Yes. We hold old-crop inventory in fumigated silos and ship year-round. Old-crop quality is unchanged for at least 12 months when stored at 13.5% moisture maximum. New-crop is preferred when buyers need maximum aroma retention.
Prices typically soften in November-December as new-crop paddy floods the market and millers compete for storage. Prices firm in March-July as old-crop inventory thins. The /prices/ page reflects the daily FOB Karachi quote.
Lower Sindh has a warmer year-round climate than Punjab. Nurseries can be sown 4-6 weeks earlier. The rice cycle compresses by roughly one month, so harvest lands in October-November versus Punjab basmati in November-December.
Plan your shipment around the Sindh harvest.
New-crop IRRI-6 ships from December. Old-crop year-round. Confirmed FOB or CNF quote within 24 business hours.