Several Indian states have already declared near-drought conditions and are demanding extra federal funds or announcing large subsidies to help farmers buy diesel fuel to generate electricity to irrigate their fields.

Officials in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh -- India's most populous -- fear that a drought is around the corner.

Sharma, a rice farmer in the state, said if it doesn't rain in the next few days he'll to forgo a rice crop this year.

"At this time of the year we generally make preparations to tackle floods but paucity of rain has raised an apprehension about drought engulfing the major part of the state," state Agriculture Production Commissioner Alok Ranjan told The Associated Press in the state capital Lucknow on Friday.

In the western state of Gujarat, Bharat, who goes by one name, has waited a long time for his thirsty fields to be quenched.

"We are tired of looking at the sky, but the rain just doesn't fall," he said.