Monsoon covers entire country

The annual monsoon rains, a key factor that drives India's economy, have covered the vast country after a sluggish spell, a top weather official said today, boosting the outlook for farm products and rural income.

The annual monsoon rains, a key factor that drives India's economy, have covered the vast country after a sluggish spell, a top weather official said on Tuesday, boosting the outlook for farm products and rural income.

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"The monsoon has covered the entire country by about nine days ahead of schedule," BP Yadav, director at the India Meteorological Department, told Reuters.

The rains had advanced into key grain-producing states of Punjab and Haryana by Monday, continuing a rapid revival after falling 16 per cent below normal in June.

The June-September rains usually covers the entire country by the middle of July.

The shortfall in monsoon rains since June 1 had narrowed to 13 per cent after five days of heavy rainfall, data from the weather office showed on Monday.

The recovery of monsoon, the main source of water for summer-sown crops, allayed fears of farm losses in one of the world's top producers and consumers of cotton, rice and sugar, and the biggest importer of vegetable oils.