By Patturaja Murugaboopathy
(Reuters) - India's monsoon rains were below average for a fourth straight week due to scant seasonal rainfall over central and western parts of the country, raising concerns about production of summer-sown crops such as rice, soybeans and cotton.
The monsoon - which accounts for 70% of India's annual rainfall and is the lifeblood of its $2.5 trillion economy - has delivered 36% lower-than-normal rainfall since the start of the season on June 1, according to data compiled by the India Meteorological Department.
(GRAPHIC: India's rainfall deficit - https://tmsnrt.rs/2YkskQE)
However, the deficit has narrowed to 36% from last week's 43%, the data showed.
(GRAPHIC: India's rainfall distribution by subdivisions - https://tmsnrt.rs/2FyvtEX)
Sowing of summer crops such as cotton, rice, soybeans, corn and pulses has been lower than last year due to the late arrival of monsoon rains this year.
(GRAPHIC: India's sowing levels - https://tmsnrt.rs/2YpaUm9)
A decent improvement in rainfall in the coming weeks remains critical for the sowing of summer crops, analysts said.
If there isn't a turnaround in conditions, agricultural output could be hit badly and hurt an already slowing economy as rural demand sags.
(GRAPHIC: Weighting of agri-commodities in India's CPI - https://tmsnrt.rs/2FB5gWG)
(Reporting By Patturaja Murugaboopathy; Editing by Martin Howell and David Evans)
