'No drought-like situation, no cause for concern'

Brushing aside fears of a drought, union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on Sunday said that though the monsoon rains have been delayed this year, there is "no drought-like situation".

Brushing aside fears of a drought, union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on Sunday said that though the monsoon rains have been delayed this year, there is "no drought-like situation".

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"There is no drought like situation because of the delay in the monsoon and the losses would be compensated in the months of July and August... There is no need to worry," Pawar told a television channel.

The minister also rejected rumours of a pricerise and said that food procurement this year was better and the government has "enough stock of seeds and food grain".

Pawar's comments come a day after Manipur was declared a drought-hit state.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a below average monsoon this year, and said that the country is likely to receive only 93 percent of the annual average rainfall.