Water shortages threaten India's winter crops as food prices climb

Farmers preparing to plant winter crops, particularly in southern and western India, face water shortages after below-average monsoon rains. Poor soil moisture could lower winter crop yields this season, while sugar, pulses, wheat and rice are already getting pricier. Annual retail food inflation reached 7.74% in September. It could reach around 10% in the October–December quarter, but that remains a forecast.