Farm Secretary Ashish Bahuguna has said on Friday that the monsoon rains remained be 21-22 percent below average from June 1 till the whole planting month of July.

Experts say that the rains are not likely to increase drastically to prevent a drought like situation. It is a possibility that the ministers meeting next week over the situation might declare a drought and it will propel the government to offer additional supported to the those affected, mostly in the agriculture sector.

Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar had assesses the situation in the beginning of July and had said that the government will look at the situation carefully to determine if the country is facing a drought like situation. The rains did not pick up during the month and many states are already felling the ipacts of below average monsoon.

Even as the average estimate is 22 per cent below average rainfall, the rainfall has been 40 per cent below average in key crop-growing areas in the north and northwest. There are concerns over low rain fall in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and Karnataka.

Mr. Pawar said ministers would meet early next week to discuss the situation.