Kharif Sowing Near 2025 Levels; Rural Demand Seen Resilient

Every year, farmers in India plant crops that are harvested in the autumn, and this is called kharif sowing.

This year, planting has nearly caught up to last year's levels, helped by rain across many parts of the country.

The rain sometimes stops for a little while, but it keeps coming back.

The next few weeks of rain are very important for the harvest.

Good rain means a good harvest and moist soil for the next round of planting, called rabi.

Some people worry that the rain might be weak, partly because of a weather pattern called El Niño.

A smart economist named Tanvee Gupta Jain says she does not think weak rain will hurt people's spending too much.

That is because farmers had two good years before this one, and the government is giving money and other support to villages.

She says rural families have stronger savings and easier access to loans now.

So even if things slow down a little, rural households should still be okay.