Mumbai, June 17 -- Strengthening El Nino conditions and a delayed southwest monsoon have started weighing on India's kharif crop season, with sowing activity falling below last year's levels, particularly in pulses and oilseeds, according to an ICICI Bank Research report.

The report flagged rising weather-related risks to the agricultural season, saying, "El Nino conditions have gotten stronger recently with relative index crossing threshold level and pointing towards further increase. Notably, IMD had revised its rainfall forecast lower."

According to the report, kharif sowing as of June 12 stood at 8.5 million hectares, down 3.9 per cent from 8.8 million hectares during the corresponding period last year, as deficient rainfall in key ...