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- Rice production in India’s kharif season for 2023-24 is estimated to drop by 3.79% to 106.31 million tonnes compared to 110.5 million tonnes in the previous year.
- An uneven monsoon and prolonged dry spell in August have led to this decline in rice production.
- Moong, urad, soybean, and sugarcane are among the major kharif crops expected to see production declines due to adverse weather conditions.
- The drop in production could impact food inflation and lead to increased reliance on imports for essential items like edible oils and pulses.
- India experienced an irregular monsoon with late rains, significant rainfall deficits, and periods of excessive rainfall during the kharif season.