Summer crop planting lags as monsoon rains remain patchy in India

Planting of rice, the key summer crop, was at 18.5 million hectares on Friday, against 19.8 million hectares at the same time last year.

Farmers in India have planted summer-sown crops on 68.9 million hectares, down 6.3% year on year, agriculture ministry data showed on Friday, marginally narrowing the sowing gap estimate from the previous week.

Farmers typically start planting rice, corn, cotton, soybeans, sugarcane and peanuts, among other crops, from June 1, when monsoon rains are expected to enter India. Sowing usually lasts until July.

Summer rains are crucial as nearly half of India's farmland lacks irrigation. The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare will keep updating the provisional sowing figures as it gathers more information from state governments. The planting figures are also subject