Annual monsoon rains hit Southern coast

Annual monsoon rains, vital for India's farm-dependent economy, have hit the country's southern coast raising hopes of early sowing of rice, oilseeds and cotton. The weather office said on Saturday that the four-month monsoon season has begun earlier than the usual date of June 1.Early onset of monsoon, and forecasts of nearly normal rains, will help raise farm output, which may encourage the new government to lift curbs on rice exports, and allow futures trade in rice, which was banned amid fears of scarcity.