Though the south-west monsoon has been normal in many parts of the country, barring a few, farmers have raised concerns about high prices of pesticides and agro-chemicals, which may rise further.

Prices of key insecticides and pesticides have increased 5-15 per cent over the past year and experts see prices rising further due to short supply. There is 10-15 per cent shortage in the total demand for select molecules.

Cotton, groundnut sowing likely to be affected if the clouds don