<p class="title">Monsoon rains in the week ending on Wednesday were below average for the fifth time in a row, although the deficit was the lowest since the start of the season after it revived in central and western regions.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Monsoon rains are crucial for farm output and economic growth, as about 55% of India's arable land is rain-fed, and agriculture forms about 15% of a $2.5-trillion economy that is the third biggest in Asia.</p>.<p class="bodytext">India received 6% less rainfall than the 50-year average in the week ended on July 3, data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) showed.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Soybean- and cotton-growing central regions received 43 per cent more rainfall in the week, while the rubber- and tea-growing southern state of Kerala got 87 per cent lower rainfall.</p>.<p class="bodytext">India has received the rain that is 28 per cent less than average since the monsoon season began on June 1. </p>
<p class="title">Monsoon rains in the week ending on Wednesday were below average for the fifth time in a row, although the deficit was the lowest since the start of the season after it revived in central and western regions.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Monsoon rains are crucial for farm output and economic growth, as about 55% of India's arable land is rain-fed, and agriculture forms about 15% of a $2.5-trillion economy that is the third biggest in Asia.</p>.<p class="bodytext">India received 6% less rainfall than the 50-year average in the week ended on July 3, data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) showed.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Soybean- and cotton-growing central regions received 43 per cent more rainfall in the week, while the rubber- and tea-growing southern state of Kerala got 87 per cent lower rainfall.</p>.<p class="bodytext">India has received the rain that is 28 per cent less than average since the monsoon season began on June 1. </p>