No signs of drought in India despite weak monsoon

There are no signs of drought in India despite below-normal monsoon rains, a senior meteorological official told the CNBC-TV18 television channel Tuesday.

"July is the rainiest month in terms of quantity. If we get more than 90 percent (of long period average), it will be good," said A. Mazumdar, a senior official of the India Meteorological Department.

India's four-month-long annual monsoon is crucial for summer-sown crops as 60 percent of the agricultural area is rain-fed.

Meanwhile, India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has decided to set up a ministerial panel to ensure food grain security, including local purchases and management of stocks, following delayed monsoon rains.

An official statement said late Monday (Jul 13) that the panel would also look into increasing state-fixed prices of food grains and a proposed law on food security.

The panel will also include Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Farm Minister Sharad Pawar, along with eight other members.