Monsoon covers entire India ahead of schedule: IMD

Monsoon has covered the entire country, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Friday, more than two weeks ahead of the normal schedule in a year that is forecast to see below average rains.

The revival of monsoon rains in the grain bowl of northwest and central regions should help speed up the sowing of main summer crops such as rice, corn, soybeans and cotton.

Over a quarter higher rainfall since the start of the June-September season has eased concerns of a first drought in six years.

Rains are vital to the agricultural sector, which accounts for about 15 per cent of the country's nearly $2 trillion economy.

Two-thirds of the 1.2 billion population live in rural areas. Last year, monsoon rains covered the country two days behind the schedule, hitting crop output.

(Reuters)