Monsoons Hit Indian Coast

According to the Indian meteorological department, the annual monsoon rains, vital for India's farm-dependent economy, have hit the country's southern coast raising hopes of early sowing of rice and other crops.

Industry experts feel that the early onset of the monsoons and forecasts of nearly normal rains, will help raise farm output, which may encourage the new government to lift curbs on rice exports, and allow futures trade in rice, which was banned amid fears of scarcity.

Monsoon rains are crucial for India's farm dependent economy and determines the fate of summer-sown crops like rice, soybean, sugarcane and cotton.