Sowing

Though sowing of wheat was delayed initially, data show farmers have managed to plant the crop despite a cash crunch following the demonetisation exercise

Sowing of wheat , the main winter or rabi crop, 0.9% lower than the normal area of 25.8 million hectares; rice sowing lagging by 33%

Winter crops have been planted so far in 56.5 million hectares, 3% lower than the 58.2 million hectares sown by this time last year

Wheat sowing is lower by 5.6%, pulses by nearly 7% and oilseeds shows a lag of nearly 12%, compared to the normal area sown by this time of the year

If complex fertilizer product off-take does not pick up in the rest of the season, then the inventory can emerge as an overhang for the sector

Winter crops have been planted in 31.8 million ha, lower than the normal area of 37.6 million ha by this time of the year, or a shortfall of 15.5%

The company warns sales may remain weak for the rest of the year due to low reservoir levels, low commodity prices and delay in sowing of the winter crops

Overall monsoon deficit has widened to 13% of long-period average even as the southwest monsoon began its withdrawal

Rallis's standalone sales, which reflect exports and the domestic agrochemicals business, fell 15.5% in the last quarter

Ample rains, revival of monsoon in July boosts sowing of rain-fed crops