India's crop prospects brighten on monsoon rains

During the week ending August 24th, 2011, 22 out of 36 weather subdivisions indicated receiving normal or above average rains. The total weighted all India rainfall average was 8 percent below the long period average (LPA). Monsoon rains are progressing normally, as over the last two weeks, the cumulative rain deficit continues to remain at 1 percent.

During the month of August, India as a whole received sufficient rains.

According to recent agro-meteorological advisory bulletin from Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), standing crops of soybean, cotton and minor oilseeds in Maharashtra (except Vidarbha), peanut, red gram and other pulse crops in Andhra Pradesh, paddy crop in Bihar and Jharkhand have been recovering from moisture stress.
The forecast of good rainfall in central, eastern and western regions should help normal growth of the standing crops. However, excess rain over Central and North India could impact growth of cotton and soybean.

According to the latest planting progress report, kharif crops have been planted on 99.2 million hectares (equal to 95 percent of normal area under kharif crops), compared to the 96.3 million hectares during the same period last year. Farmers are increasing planted area for rice, soybean, cotton, sugarcane, castor and sesamum, as these crops are currently relatively more remunerative than other kharif crops. With the kharif planting season almost over, no additional planting is expected for coarse cereals, cotton and most oilseeds. Recent rains have replenished water levels in major irrigation dams and have recharged ground water levels, which should positively impact planting of winter crops like wheat, winter rice, rapeseed-mustard and pulses. However, the harvest will largely depend on sufficient and well-distributed rains during second half of monsoon season.