Sept. 6 (Bloomberg) -- India received more rains in the first three months of the current monsoon season, boosting prospects for a record output of crops such as sugar and cotton.

Rains were 102 percent of the long-period average of 752 millimeters (29.6 inches) between June 1 and Sept. 5, the India Meteorological Department said on its Web site. The nation got 769.9 millimeters of rain during the period, with 31 weather zones recording excess to normal rains.

The weather bureau said in June showers during the June- September monsoon season would be 93 percent of the long-period average, a level deemed normal.

The four-month rainy season is key to the health of India's $854 billion economy. A bigger harvest can help increase incomes among the 700 million Indians who live in the villages and spur demand for appliances.

Farmers have increased area planted with soybean, peanuts, sugarcane, rice, cotton and lentils this year from a year ago because of a good monsoon, the farm ministry said Aug. 31. They have planted 17.02 million hectares (42 million acres) with oilseeds, 9 percent more than a year ago. Cotton has been planted on 9 million hectares, 5 percent more than a year earlier.

Rice, the biggest crop, has been planted on 33.7 million hectares, compared with 33.42 million hectares a year earlier.

Parts of north and east India may receive more rain in the next five days, the weather agency said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Thomas Kutty Abraham in Mumbai at tabraham4@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: September 6, 2007 09:23 EDT