Poor rains forecast in India's cane, grain areas

India's weather office forecast weak rains in most oilseeds and cane regions in the next five days, but said parts of Uttar Pradesh, the main sugarcane state, may receive rains in the next 24 hours.

India's weather office forecast weak rains in most oilseeds and cane regions in the next five days, but said parts of Uttar Pradesh -- the main sugarcane state -- may receive rains in the next 24 hours.

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The India Meteorological Department has forecast rains "at isolated places" in central India, the main soybean producing region which received a negligible 1 percent of average rainfall last week.

In the next five days, heavy rains are forecast only in eastern and northeastern India, which does make a significant contribution to India's farm output.

Monsoon rains in India, where only 40 per cent of farmland is irrigated, were 64 per cent below normal, hitting oilseeds and cane plantings and raising concerns of a spike in food prices.