Monsoon rains hit Kerala eight days ahead of schedule—the earliest in 16 years—offering relief from a harsh heatwave and raising hopes for a bumper harvest. Delivering nearly 70% of India’s rain, the monsoon is vital for farming, especially for half the farmland without irrigation. With favorable conditions for the monsoon to spread across more states soon, early rains and ample soil moisture could boost crop yields this season. The India Meteorological Department forecasts above-average rainfall for the second consecutive year.
