FACTBOX-Impact of India's previous drought on crops

REUTERS - India's monsoon rains are likely to be the worst in nearly 40 years, expected to fall 20 percent short of normal. India last saw a similar rainfall deficit in 2002.

Following are details of the impact of the 2002 drought on various crops and edible oil output and imports, which may be a pointer to the implications of this year's failed monsoon.

SPECIFIC CROPS

* Wheat output in 2002/03 fell 10 percent to 65.76 million tonnes, the lowest since 1995/96, when output was 62.1 million tonnes. The yield, 2.61 tonnes per hectare, was the lowest since 1998/99, while the crop area had fallen 4 percent.

* Soybean output fell 22 percent to 4.65 million tonnes, the lowest since 1992/93, when output was 3.39 million tonnes. The yield, at 762 kg per hectares, was the lowest since 1987/88. Crop area was 3.6 percent lower.

* Sugar cane: Despite a 2.5 percent rise in crop area, output fell 3.3 percent to 287.38 million tonnes, lowest since 1997/98 when India produced 279.5 million tonnes. The yield, in tonnes per hectare, was 63.58 in the drought year, the lowest since 1988/89.

* Rice output fell 23.5 percent to 71.82 million tonnes, the lowest since 1988/89 when India produced 70.49 million tonnes.

* Corn output fell 15.3 percent to 11.15 million tonnes. The yield was the lowest since 1994/05.