MUMBAI
\nIndia\u2019s monsoon rains have advanced into the western state of Maharashtra after covering almost all of the southern region, but they could weaken and deliver lower-than-normal rainfall next week, two senior weather officials told Reuters.
\nSummer rains, critical to spur economic growth in Asia\u2019s third-largest economy, usually begin in the south around June 1 before spreading nationwide by mid-July, allowing farmers to plant crops such as rice, corn, cotton, soybeans and sugarcane.
\nThe monsoon arrived in Maharashtra on Thursday after spreading through the southern states earlier than usual, a senior official of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) told Reuters.
\nMaharashtra is India\u2019s biggest producer of sugar and its second largest producer of cotton and soybeans.
\nIndia has received 7 percent more rainfall than normal since the season began on June 1, the IMD says. The monsoon will advance further across India in the next few days but could weaken from next week, another weather official said.
\n\u201cThe monsoon will take a pause for few days,\u201d the official added. \u201cExcept for the west coast, most of the other regions will receive less rain,\u201d the official added.
\nFarmers need to wait for proper moisture levels in the soil before sowing summer crops and should not sow them in a hurry, the official said.
\nBoth officials sought anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media.
\nThe lifeblood of the nearly $3.5-trillion economy, the monsoon brings nearly 70 percent of the rain India needs to water farms and refill reservoirs and aquifers.
\nIn the absence of irrigation, nearly half the farmland in the world\u2019s second-biggest producer of rice, wheat and sugar depends on the annual rains that usually run from June to September.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
MUMBAI India\u2019s monsoon rains have advanced into the western state of Maharashtra after covering almost all of the southern region, but they could weaken and deliver lower-than-normal rainfall next week, two senior weather officials told Reuters. Summer rains, critical to spur economic growth in Asia\u2019s third-largest economy, usually begin in the south around June 1 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-411324","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n