As the Indian economy heads towards de-growth on account of the severe impact of COVID-19, a more than normal rainfall and higher showing has come as harbinger of robust crop output this Kharif season giving rise to hope and respite during troubled times. In a report Silver lining in dark clouds, CRISIL Research said better agriculture output this year will lead to 3 to 5% increase in [per hector] farm gate price of crops in the Kharif season leading to higher [cultivation] income for farmers. While eastern India, followed by north will lead in profitability of farmers by 26% and 4% respectively, the growth in south will remain flat and western India will see negative growth of 4%, the report said. This season will witness better profitability for rice, sugar cane and apple farmers while cotton, maize and onion farmers will suffer losses, the report added. With rains 7% above the average and well distributed across regions CRISIL Research expects a 2-3% rise in sown area on-year at 109 million hectares for kharif season 2020. Area under paddy cultivation will increase because of both rains and reverse migration of labour to the eastern and southern states.