Kharif sowing 9.7% lower as monsoon delayed over Central, North India

Going forward, however, experts say sowing should pick up pace once monsoon revives eastern, central, northern and western parts of country

Delayed arrival of the southwest monsoon in eastern, central and northern India has affected the sowing of kharif crops, which was 9.7 per cent less during the week ended June 22 compared to the same period last year.

However, government officials and agriculture experts are of the opinion that sowing of kharif crops, particularly paddy in eastern India, oilseeds and pulses in central and northern India and cotton in western parts of the country should pick up once the monsoon revives in these parts.

Monsoon had entered India two days ahead of its scheduled date and progressed well for a fortnight, before