Bihar is grappling with severe drought conditions.
Bihar Latest News: While much of the country is struggling with heavy rainfall and cloudbursts, Bihar is grappling with severe drought conditions. The state's agricultural fields are showing signs of distress, with cracks forming due to inadequate soil moisture, and farmers are struggling to sustain their transplanted paddy seedlings.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Bihar has received only 241 mm of rainfall until July 31, which is about 29% below the normal of 340.5 mm. Of Bihar's 40 districts, only two—Banka and Khagaria—have experienced rainfall above the normal levels.
In the remaining districts, the situation is grim. 14 districts have seen rainfall deficits of 40% to 60%, with Darbhanga facing a 59% shortfall, Madhubani a 56% shortfall, and Saran a 50% shortfall.
Another 14 districts have experienced deficits ranging from 20% to 39%, while 10 districts have seen up to a 19% reduction in rainfall compared to normal.
The insufficient rainfall has also resulted in a 10% to 20% drop in groundwater levels across the state. This decline is making it difficult for farmers to operate borewells and pumps for irrigation, with the added burden of high diesel costs for pump operation.
Kishore Jaiswal, an agriculturist and watershed activist from Kalyanpur in Munger district, commented, “All signs are pointing towards a devastating kharif crop season in Bihar. Paddy cultivation will be hardest hit due to the lack of rain. Many farmers are still waiting to sow paddy, and water bodies are drying up. Additionally, higher temperatures this season are likely to attract more pests to the crops.”
The state agriculture department had set a target for paddy cultivation on 36.56 lakh hectares this year, but transplantation has only been completed on around 22 lakh hectares. “Farmers are delaying paddy transplantation in hopes of better rainfall, but it remains elusive. There is some hope left, but if it doesn’t rain in the next seven to ten days, paddy production could drop significantly,” a senior agriculture department official stated.
In response to the crisis, the state government has extended a diesel subsidy for farmers at ₹75 per litre, applicable to 10 litres of diesel per acre. However, this assistance is insufficient given the current lack of rainfall.
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