Patna: Alarmed over the deficient rainfall this monsoon, the state government has started working on its contingency plan to safeguard the interests of farmers who would be the worst sufferers in case drought occurs.

According to official figures, the state had received just 204.7mm of rainfall between June 1 and July 19 against the normal of 387.2mm which was 47 per cent less than the normal.

The rainfall deficiency is widespread given the fact that only two districts - West Champaran (+3 %) and Banka (+14%) - out of the 38 districts have more than normal rainfall whereas the number of districts which have rainfall deficiency below 20 per cent is three - Sitamarhi, Madhubani and Kishanganj. There are nine districts - Patna, Bhojpur, Arwal, Saran, Siwan, Vaishali, Munger, Sheikhpura and Saharsa - where rainfall deficiency is above 70 per cent.

The rain deficiency is being reflected in the sown area and in case of paddy, against the target of 34,00,000 hectares, paddy has been transplanted on 6,50,727 hectares only so far and the corresponding figures for maize are 4,75,000 and 2,74,767 hectares, respectively.

Alarmed over the figures, the agriculture department has issued directives to its field officials to generate awareness about the diesel subsidy being given by the government to farmers so that they could protect their standing crops by irrigating their fields. This time the diesel subsidy is being given using the direct benefit transfer route.

Senior agriculture officials on Friday reviewed the progress made in the subsidy distribution work and it came to light that so far around 3,500 farmers had applied for it and the number was likely to swell rapidly in the coming few days.

"The senior officials also pointed out that farmers from Nalanda, Patna, East Champaran and Muzaffarpur districts are more active in applying for the subsidy whereas response from some of the districts like Araria, Katihar, Madhepura and Sheikhpura is poor. Field officials from such districts have been asked to generate awareness among farmers about the diesel subsidy," said an official who took part in the meeting.

The agriculture department has also directed its field officials to do a survey at the panchayat level and provide input on what is required for helping the farmers in opting for the alternative crops which could be grown even with less water.

"The field officials have been asked to submit the report within three days. We have completed the process of procuring seeds of alternative crops so that these could be supplied to farmers as soon as the demand comes," said the official.

Replying to a query about the likely time the state government would take for taking any call for declaring drought in the state, the official said the situation would be assessed till August 15 before taking any call on this issue.