India will import food to make up for shortages caused by a drought thought to be affecting 700 million people, the finance minister has said.

The minister, Pranab Mukherjee, did not specify what would be imported and when, saying he wanted to avoid speculation on prices.

The drought is affecting almost half of India's districts.

Food prices have risen by 10% after poor monsoon rains hit sowing. Monsoon rains are critical to India's farmers.

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The summer rains are crucial to crops such as rice, soybean, sugarcane and cotton.

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Up to 70% of Indians are dependent on farm incomes, and about 60% of India's farms depend on rains.