<p>Indian farmers have planted 69.2 million hectares with summer crops, up 21.2 percent from this time a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, boosted by bountiful monsoon rains that spurred sowing in most parts of the country.</p>.<p>Farmers typically start planting their summer-sown crops June 1, when monsoon rains usually reach India. Planting usually continues until the end of July or early August.</p>.<p>Planting of rice, the key summer crop, was at 16.8 million hectares as of July 17 versus 14.2 million hectares in the previous year, the ministry said.</p>.<p>The area planted with cotton was at 11.3 million hectares versus 9.6 million hectares the prior year.</p>.<p>Planting of overall oilseeds, including soybean - the main summer oilseed crop - was at 15.5 million hectares, up from 11 million hectares from the previous year.</p>.<p>Soybean sowing in India, the world's biggest buyer of cooking oils, looks likely to jump by at least 15 percent in 2020.</p>.<p>Sugarcane sowing in the world's biggest sugar producer reached 5.1 million hectares compared with 5 million hectares last year.</p>.<p>The figures are provisional and subject to revision as updates arrive with the progress of the June-September monsoon season.</p>.<p>The world's leading producer of most farm goods has received 10 percent above average rainfall since June 1.</p>.<p>India's state-run weather office defines average, or normal, rainfall as between 96 percent and 104 percent of a 50-year average of 88 cm for the entire four-month season.</p>.<p>Water levels in India's main reservoirs are substantially higher thanks to higher-than-average rains so far in the season, according to the latest government data.</p>
<p>Indian farmers have planted 69.2 million hectares with summer crops, up 21.2 percent from this time a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, boosted by bountiful monsoon rains that spurred sowing in most parts of the country.</p>.<p>Farmers typically start planting their summer-sown crops June 1, when monsoon rains usually reach India. Planting usually continues until the end of July or early August.</p>.<p>Planting of rice, the key summer crop, was at 16.8 million hectares as of July 17 versus 14.2 million hectares in the previous year, the ministry said.</p>.<p>The area planted with cotton was at 11.3 million hectares versus 9.6 million hectares the prior year.</p>.<p>Planting of overall oilseeds, including soybean - the main summer oilseed crop - was at 15.5 million hectares, up from 11 million hectares from the previous year.</p>.<p>Soybean sowing in India, the world's biggest buyer of cooking oils, looks likely to jump by at least 15 percent in 2020.</p>.<p>Sugarcane sowing in the world's biggest sugar producer reached 5.1 million hectares compared with 5 million hectares last year.</p>.<p>The figures are provisional and subject to revision as updates arrive with the progress of the June-September monsoon season.</p>.<p>The world's leading producer of most farm goods has received 10 percent above average rainfall since June 1.</p>.<p>India's state-run weather office defines average, or normal, rainfall as between 96 percent and 104 percent of a 50-year average of 88 cm for the entire four-month season.</p>.<p>Water levels in India's main reservoirs are substantially higher thanks to higher-than-average rains so far in the season, according to the latest government data.</p>