India keeps forecast of average monsoon despite strong start

NEW DELHI, June 14/.- India''s monsoon is stillexpected to deliver average rains this year, the weather officesaid on Friday, even though heavy rains and fast progress inthe first two weeks have boosted prospects of robust farm outputin one of the world''s top food producers. India''s weather office had forecast an average monsoon inApril, before the crucial rainy season started, in the absenceof the El Nino weather pattern in the Pacific Ocean which causesdroughts in South Asia. Monsoon rains should cover the whole of India beforemid-July, said B.P. Yadav, a director at the state-run IndiaMeteorological Department.