Kharif crop prices will guide inflation fight in coming months amid polls

The ongoing elections in the three states could also be influenced if inflation rears its head again.

A few weeks back, the Central government released the first advance estimate of kharif crops, which showed a dip in production of almost all crops except for tur due to uneven monsoon and other natural calamities, including pest attacks, in the case of cotton.

The first advance estimates are usually very initial projections on the crop size and, more often than not, are revised as more inputs come from the fields. But, the findings have rung alarm bells in several quarters.

The Centre, along with many others, is confident that as more details come, the crop's estimates will be revised