Monsoon Deficit Hampers Kharif Sowing, Current Progress 21% Below Last Year's Pace

India's Kharif Sowing Lags Behind Schedule Amid Weak Monsoon

India's kharif sowing, which typically begins in June, remained behind schedule in early July, with acreage nearly 6 percent below the normal area and 21 percent lower than last year's levels. The weak monsoon continued to weigh on planting across several crop categories.

According to data released by the agriculture ministry, the total area sown under kharif crops stood at 350.85 lakh hectares as of July 5. This was compared with 442.80 lakh hectares during the same period last year, indicating a significant decline. Moreover, the current sowing level was also below the normal area of 373.31 lakh hectares, suggesting that planting has yet to recover from the early-season rainfall deficit.