India: Monsoon Recovery Fails to Boost Sluggish Crop Planting

By August 1st, India's 2026 southwest monsoon has reduced the cumulative seasonal rainfall deficit to 11.5 percent below the long period average (LPA). Despite this surge, Kharif crop sowing remains sluggish, with total planted acreage trailing by 3.88 million hectares year-on-year as of late July. Live storage in 166 major reservoirs stands at 44.39 percent of capacity. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts below normal rainfall (less than 94 percent of LPA) for both August 2026 and the second half of the monsoon season (August to September 2026), driven by strengthening El Niño conditions. Government extension advisories are actively directing farmers toward climate resilient practices.