India's monsoon rains hit four-year high in boost to crop output

India's monsoon rainfall this year was its highest since 2020, with above-average precipitation for three consecutive months, helping the country recover from last year's drought, the state-run weather department said on Monday. India's annual monsoon provides almost 70% of the rain it needs to water farms and replenish reservoirs and aquifers, and is the lifeblood of a nearly $3.5 trillion economy. Rainfall over the country from June through September was 107.6% of its long period average, the highest since 2020, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).