Monsoon rains in the country were above average in the past week for the first time in the current season.

Talking to All India radio, Director of the India Meteorological Department, LS Rathore said rains were one per cent above average for the week ended 11th of this month, a sharp improvement from 49 per cent below average in the previous week. It has allayed fears of a drought which would hit output of food crops.

Meanwhile, the government has recommended contingency crop measures for several states in case of a delayed monsoon or less rainfall during Kharif season this year. The states are Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharastra, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

An official release says, the agriculture ministry has earmarked 175 lakh hectares of land in these states out of the country's total cultivable land of 1097 lakh hectares to be put under a contingency
plan on priority basis.

It has also arranged around 60 lakh quintals of short-duration variety seeds of various crops like paddy, bajra, castor, sunflower, urad, til, soyabean and other pulses for distribution in these states.

Our correspondent reports contingency plans usually come into effect after 15th July and the state governments implement it as per the prevailing situation.