Monsoon rains cover entire India but still 5% down on average so far

The progress of the monsoon, which delivers about 70% of the country's annual rainfall, is crucial for rice output and exports from India

India's annual monsoon covered the entire country on Saturday, six days earlier than usual, the state-run weather office said, but rain totals are 5% below average so far this season.

The monsoon, critical for farm output and economic growth in the world's second-most populous country, arrived on the coast of the southern Kerala state on May 29, a couple of days ahead of usual, yet after a promising start the rains gradually tapered off, clocking an 8% deficit in June.

Last month's patchy rains slowed the planting of rice, an essential summer crop.

India's rice farmers have planted 4.3 million hectares with the