India took steps amid its second drought in just four years to cut irrigation costs and increase fodder supplies for livestock farmers but stopped short of curbing exports of agricultural products or banning futures trade.

June-September monsoon rains, the main source of irrigation for 55 per cent of its farmlands, are so far 19 per cent below average. This has triggered fears of lower output and higher food inflation in one of the world's largest consumers and producers of grain.