Bihar: Poor Monsoon so far in June Disappoints Paddy Farmers

Patna: Farmers are worried as the monsoon in June has disappointed them so far. They are struggling to save paddy seedlings and are uncertain about paddy transplantation in early July.

Going by data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) centre in Patna, the state is set to record poor monsoon rains in June this year after decades.

According to scientists at IMD centre, Bihar has received nearly 78% less than normal rainfall till June 27. With two days to go for the month to end, the state has recorded 28.6 millimetres (mm) of rainfall so far against the normal rainfall of 122.8 millimetres (mm), which is majorly deficient.

According to some Bihar Agriculture Department officials, of the 38 districts, 37 districts are facing rainfall deficit, except Kishanganj district, which has recorded near normal rains so far.

Officials at IMD centre, Patna, told NewsClick  that there was no possibility of good or heavy rainfall in the next two to three days. The monsoon is weak and favourable conditions are missing, they said, adding that “now rains are expected in July first week with a strong monsoon system".

In the past three years, Bihar received normal monsoon rains.

Abdus Sattar, assistant professor, agrometeorology, at the Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa, in Samastipur, said the best time to start paddy transplantation is June-end but poor monsoon rains have badly affected cultivation.

Speaking with NewsClick, Sattar said several farmers had approached the university in recent days and expressed their fear that poor monsoon could result in a drought-like situation.

Officials of agriculture department said thousands of farmers have managed to prepare a nursery of paddy seedlings, locally known as Dhan Bichra, with the help of groundwater, by using diesel and electric pumps, But, these are drying up due to the lack of adequate water.

"Due to heavy deficiency in the rains, farmlands have developed cracks and paddy seedlings are either drying up or turning yellow. Farmers have been working hard and trying to save paddy seedlings with a hope that rains will start in a couple of days. The lack of rains is a big issue now", the officials said.

Local Hindi dailies report that farmers have lost hope of a normal monsoon this June across the state, unlike in the past three years when Bihar received normal and surplus rainfall in June and paddy output increased.

Sanyasi Red, a big farmer at Masaurih block in Patna, told NewsClick, that farmers, mainly small and marginal, have no option but to depend on the monsoon for water-intensive paddy cultivation. “Normal rains during monsoon are a boon for paddy sowing and transplantation" he added.

Normally, the monsoon hits the state between June 13 and 14. This year, it arrived in the northeastern parts of the state on June 12, a day ahead of the expected date. But the monsoon system got obstructed and could not advance on time. IMD officials said cyclone Biparjoy and intense westerly winds obstructed the monsoon from moving into other parts of the state.

Ideally, paddy plantation should be completed by July 15 to get a good output, say scientists. Any further delay would affect productivity as well as quality.