Kharif sowing is three percent higher than the same period last year, driven by increased acreage under rice and maize. However, heavy rains in late August caused flooding and widespread waterlogging in Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan, severely affecting standing crops. As of September 5, cumulative rainfall is nine percent above the long-period average, and the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) predicts above-normal rainfall for September 2025.