According to the data, paddy, a major kharif crop, was sown across 26.3 mln ha, down from 27.4 mln ha a year ago. Subdued rains and delay in arrival of the monsoon in some states have hit sowing in a few regions this year. In the ongoing southwest monsoon season so far, the country has received 442.3 mm of rainfall, against the normal weighted average of 481.3 mm for the period.