Katya Naidu11 Jul 2023, 07:00
Kharif sowing in India is down by 9% compared to last year, with rice and pulses seeing the biggest impact. Despite heavy rainfall in July, the uneven distribution of rainfall plus the El Nino effect are believed to be the main reasons for the lower sowing. Millets like sorghum and bajra, however, have seen increased sowing, as have coarse cereals and sugarcane. Inflation may impact the Reserve Bank of India’s planned key interest rate cut later in the year, with tomato prices already affecting food inflation.