Surplus rainfall level declined to 5.48 percent on August 13 from 7.12 percent a week ago, but Northern Indian states continued to reel under deficit rain, according to data released by the India Meteorological Department.

In the northwest, four states and Union Territories faced deficient rainfall. In the North East, too, deficit rainfall sustained. Punjab and Manipur recorded the highest deficit of 34 percent and 36 percent, while Haryana had a deficit of 30 percent.

Kharif sowing was just 1.4 percent higher at 98 million hectares, despite rainfall remaining in surplus for over three weeks.

Paddy sowing was up 4.3 percent to 33.2 million hectares, whereas pulses sowing was 6.7 percent higher. On the other hand, jute and cotton sowing was down around 9 percent as of August 12.

“On the sowing front, kharif progress is satisfactory for all crops except cotton and jute which is lower. In case of sugarcane, it is on par with last year. As there are still over 2 weeks to go, there is scope for a catch-up,” said Sonal Badhan, economist at Bank of Baroda.

Data released on August 8 showed that India’s reservoir situation improved further with the country having reservoir levels 21 percent more than normal storage compared with 7 percent in the previous week.

The northern part of the country and states like West Bengal in the East continued to witness below-normal reservoir storage, which has impacted sowing.

The government is hoping for a revival of its agricultural sector, which recorded 1.4 percent growth in FY24 compared to 4.7 percent in the previous year, also lower than the 3.7 percent long-term average.