MONSOON WATCH
Surinder Sud / New Delhi July 18, 2008, 0:51 IST
Weighed down by uneven distribution of rains, kharif sowing prospects look uncertain. The southern peninsula is nearly 34 per cent short of rains and the situation in Maharashtra and parts of Gujarat and Rajasthan isn't too encouraging either.

This has jeopardised the outlook for several crops, including oilseeds, especially groundnut, pulses, notably tur (arhar), cotton and plantations. In fact, paddy and sugarcane can also be adversely affected if the conditions do not improve soon.