Rice planting gathers pace as monsoon rains revive

Earlier this month, India ordered a halt to its largest rice export category – a move that will roughly halve shipments by the world’s largest exporter of the grain. Farmers typically start planting rice, corn, cotton, soybeans, sugarcane and peanuts, among other crops, from June 1, when monsoon rains are expected to begin drenching India. Sowing usually lasts until July and early August. Summer rains are crucial as nearly half of India’s farmland lacks irrigation.