Patna: Amid deficient rainfall this monsoon, the agriculture department in Bihar has launched a special scheme to ensure quick payment of subsidy money to farmers who have been forced to use diesel pumpsets to irrigate their field to safeguard kharif crops.

At present, Bihar has received 203.0mm rainfall from June 1 to July 15, which is 40 per cent less than the normal rainfall of 339.9mm in this period.

What is more alarming is the fact that there is no hope of any reversal in the rainfall trend in the coming few days.

"Absence of synoptic features has led to deficient rainfall and monsoon is expected to be active over the state not before July 21," said Patna Met office scientist Anand Shankar.

He said around July 21 the monsoon trough line is expected to shift towards Bihar, which would lead to four to five days of rainfall in the state.

The deficient rainfall is showing adverse impact on cultivation of two important kharif crops - paddy and maize. Against the target of cultivating paddy on 34,00,000 hectares, the actual transplantation has taken place on 5,03,111 hectares of land, which is 14.8 per cent of the target.

The corresponding figures for maize are 4,75,000 and 2,64,870 hectares respectively, which is 55.76 per cent of the target.

"We are seized with the problems facing the farmers owing to the deficient rainfall and that is why special steps have been taken to ensure quick delivery of diesel subsidy to farmers who are being forced to use pumpsets to irrigate their field," a senior official with the agriculture department said.

According to scheme details, farmers would get the subsidy amount using the direct benefit transfer mode and they need to register themselves online with the department and fill a format.

So far, 207 farmers have registered themselves using the facility.