Farmers had planted summer crops on 59.2 million hectares as of July 15, slightly more than the 59.1 million hectares a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Development for farmer welfare. Crop plantings fell 9.3% through last week.

Summer crop planting takes place during the monsoon months of June and July, while harvesting begins in October.

Except for northern India, most of the country has received above-normal rainfall so far this month, which has accelerated planting, a Mumbai-based trader told an international trading house.

India has received 13% more rainfall than usual since the start of the monsoon season on June 1, but some rice-growing states such as West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have received normally lower monsoons, according to data from the meteorological department.

Around 12.85 million hectares are planted with rice, a 17 percent decrease compared to the previous year, the minister said.

The rice planting deficit could narrow to 5% by the end of July as rainfall returns, said BV Krishna Rao, chairman of the All India Rice Exporters Association.

India is the world’s largest rice exporter and accounts for more than 40% of the world’s rice trade. The drop in production could prompt New Delhi to curb rice exports.

In July, the most important month for growing summer crops, India is expected to receive monsoon rainfall between 94% and 106% of the long-term average, the meteorological department said earlier in the month.

Cotton cultivation has increased 6.4 percent so far to 10.28 million hectares, while soybean area has jumped 10 percent to 9.9 million hectares, the ministry said.

Corn is grown on 5 million hectares, down 12% over one year.