Indian farmers have reported a 23.7m hectare increase in summer-sown rice, up 1.71% YoY. Crucial monsoon rains in July helped farmers accelerate sowing and this higher rice planting in India, the world's second largest producer of the grain, will ease concerns about the staple's lower output. India ordered a halt to its largest rice export category earlier this month - a move that will roughly halve shipments by the world's largest exporter of the grain.