Indian farmers have accelerated the planting of summer-sown crops, such as paddy, soybean, cotton, and corn, following above-average monsoon rainfall in July. This comes after a deficit in June that had delayed the start of the sowing season.
According to government data, by July 12th, farmers had planted summer crops on 57.5 million hectares (142 million acres), which is 10% higher than the same period last year.
The monsoon rains, which are critical for economic growth in Asia’s third-largest economy, usually begin in the south around June 1 before spreading nationwide by July 8. However, in June, India received 11% less rain than average, causing a delay in sowing.
In the first half of July, there was 9% more rainfall than normal, which helped farmers catch up on planting. The revival of the monsoon in early July is seen as a positive sign for crop yields and overall agricultural production.
Specific crop planting data shows:
Paddy (rice) area up 20.7% to 11.6 million hectares
Oilseeds, including soybeans, up to 14 million hectares from 11.5 million hectares
Corn up to 5.88 million hectares from 4.38 million hectares
Cotton area slightly higher at 9.6 million hectares
Pulses up 26% to 6.23 million hectares
The strong monsoon revival and increased crop planting bode well for India’s agricultural sector and overall economic growth, as the farm sector is a crucial driver of the nearly $3.5 trillion economy.