India gets below-average monsoon rains for second straight week: IMD

Poor rain could lead to lower crop yields this year, especially in crops like soybean, cotton and pulses: Expert

Monsoon rains in India in the week through Wednesday were below average for the second straight week, the weather office said, raising concerns over production of summer-sown crops such as cotton, soybean, corn and rice.

India is the world's biggest exporter of rice and top importer of edible oils. A drop in production could not only limit rice and cotton exports, but also boost imports of edible oils such as palm oil, sunflower oil and soyoil.

India received 35% less rain than the 50-year average in the week to August 11, with the shortfall as high as 98% in cotton and soybean