As of the week ending July 2, 2014, India’s southwest monsoon advanced into areas of northern India, as well as northern Rajasthan and parts of Uttar Pradesh. The monsoon in eastern and west-central India is delayed by over a week, and dry weather continues in these areas. Kharif crop planting as of July 5, 2014, has dropped by about 55 percent versus planting levels from the same period in 2013. Rainfall in during the next three weeks will be crucial for rain-fed crops, particularly rice.
