Good monsoon has led to more acreage under cultivation: Agri ministry

A rapid progress of the monsoon helped Indian farmers plant nearly 14% more land than last year with rice, corn, cane, cotton and soybean crops, according to the farm ministry.

Farmers planted more acreage of every single summer-sown crops between June 1 and July 31 than last year, brightening the prospects for a bumper output in the world's leading producer of farm commodities.

The area planted with rice, the main food crop of the world's second-most populous country, was 26.7 million hectares, compared with 22.4 million hectares in the year-earlier period.

Oilseeds planting was at 17.5 million hectares, compared with 15 million hectares.