India's kharif sowing has remained behind last year's pace, with farmers covering 658.19 lakh hectares as of July 17, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare.
The area under kharif crops was 700.47 lakh hectares during the corresponding period last year, meaning the acreage this season is lower by 42.28 lakh hectares, or 6.04 percent.
The figures offer an early snapshot of the progress of the country's main agricultural season, which is closely watched for its implications for food supply, inflation and rural incomes. Kharif crops are generally sown with the arrival of the southwest monsoon and harvested later in the year.
