 India's farming sector has suffered from poor rainfall |
India has reported its slowest economic growth for six quarters after poor monsoon rains hurt agriculture, one of its largest sectors. The country's economy grew 6.2% in the three months to the end of December 2004, compared with a rise of 6.6% in the previous quarter.
Farming accounts for 22% of India's economy and the second lowest rainfall for 17 years damaged harvests.
However, India is hoping for growth of 6.9% for the year to the end of March.
Finance minister Palaniappan Chidambaram is relying on low interest rates to encourage spending on expensive goods like cars and offset poor farming yields.
Interest rates in the country are currently at a 30-year low.
One-Minute World News 
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