According to datafrom the India Meteorological Department (IMD), monsoon rains in India were 4% below average in week to Aug 1, reports said.
Whereas, the monsoon deficit of the season till Aug 1 has narrowed to 19% of the long period average.
In July, the wettest month of the season and also the key planting month, the rains were about 13% below average.
On Tuesday took steps to cut irrigation costs and increase fodder supplies for livestock farmers. But it held off from imposing any curb on exports of agricultural products or a ban of futures trading in them.
Still, problems are far from over as two-months of the four-month long season are already over and if the monsoon does not continue to show improvement, inflationary pressures, especially food inflation, would most likely be stoked again.
In India, where agriculture and farming account for 15% of the $2tn economy, timely and sufficient rainfall is extremely crucial as 55% of the arable land depends on rains for water needs.
A drought is declared when monsoon rains are below 90% of long-term averages in the entire season. India last experienced a drought in 2009.