Monsoon-sown crop area in India drops 12% amid delayed rains

By Pratik Parija,

Indian farmers have planted monsoon crops such as rice, cotton and soybeans on 6.11 crore hectares of land as of July 16, a decline of 12% from a year earlier, according to the farm ministry.

Area under sugarcane has risen almost 1.7% to 53.7 lakh hectares so far this year, while cotton has been planted in 98.4 lakh hectares, down 13% from a year earlier, the ministry said late Friday.

Read | India's summer crop planting lags as monsoon rains taper off

India’s June-September monsoon rains were 7% below average in the week ended July 14, according to the India Meteorological Department.

Sowing of monsoon-sown crops normally begins in late May and peaks in July while harvesting starts in late September.

Following is a table showing area covered under major crops.

Credit: Bloomberg