"I think by and large rainfall in the country has been satisfactory, deputy director-general of the India Meteorological Department SR Kalsi told Reuters.

He said Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh had received good rains in the past three days and showers had been widespread in northeastern parts and the adjoining areas of Bihar and West Bengal.

But a "weak monsoon scenario" existed in western and central parts in the past couple of days and rainfall would be scanty, Kalsi said.

Weather officials forecast an 11th consecutive normal monsoon in 1999. The country receives 80 per cent of its rainfall from the June-September southwest monsoon.

head of the technology mission on oilseeds in the agriculture ministry JNL Srivastava said the monsoon's progress was normal in 28 of 35 sub-divisions and he was hopeful of a goodcrop.

"On account of this, rice has been planted in the northern states, especially in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh.

"Soybean (coverage) as compared to last year is higher and much better," he said.

Srivastava said the rains had helped sowing of cereal crops and cotton cover was very satisfactory.

"Overall, we are hoping for a normal rainfall. Eastern areas have received 94 per cent rainfall. That means less chances of flood and thus better crops," he said.

Junior farm minister Som Pal said on Tuesday the country's grains output in 1998/99 (July-June) was estimated at a record 203 million tonnes compared with 192.43 million in the previous year.

"Monsoon is good, initial rains are widespread, and sowing of groundnut and other oilseeds in Saurashtra region has started. Cotton sowing has also started," said president of the Bombay Oils and Oilseeds Exchange Navinbhai Shah.

Shah said a second spell of rains was needed after a fortnight for further soil moisture.

But agro-scientist at theInternational Crop Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) at Hyderabad SM Virmani sounded less optimistic.

"As a whole nationally, it is an average situation," Virmani told Reuters by phone.

In south, there was a break in the rains and some crops sown were showing drought stress, he said.

"Where crops depend on more rainfall, they have been affected. We are waiting for the next rain which is not coming."