Robust rainfall across the state over the past few days has sparked fear as well as cheer.

While the threat of floods looms large over several north Bihar districts, the showers have brought relief too in a couple of ways. First, the state-wide rainfall deficiency has dropped from around 23 per cent to 5 per cent in just a week's time. Second, the showers are proving to be "nectar from heaven" for the paddy crop.

Farmers are busy transplanting paddy saplings as the showers have provided a good amount of water in the agricultural fields.

Figures from the agriculture department also reflect a steep rise in paddy cultivation in the state. From 4.05 lakh hectares on July 11, the total area covered under paddy transplantation increased to 11.3 hectares as of Wednesday.

"The rain over the past few days have come as a boon for farmers involved in paddy cultivation. The ongoing spells of rain provided the required amount of water for carrying out plantation," said Sudhanshu Kumar, an organic farmer from Samastipur.

According to practices in paddy cultivation, once the seedlings grow into saplings, they are transplanted from the nurseries to the fields.

This is done by plucking the paddy saplings from the nurseries by hand and planting them in the field, which should ideally have knee-deep water.

"The ongoing spell of showers is highly beneficial for farmers as it is the peak season for transplantation of paddy saplings. It is also good for those farmers who have already done plantation. It would sustain paddy cultivation for at least another fortnight, after which the farmers would expect a similar spell of rain," said Anil Kumar Jha, an expert in the agriculture department.

Paddy is the main crop of Khariff or monsoon season in Bihar and sowing of its seeds starts mostly from early June and continues till the end of the month. Paddy transplantation on the other hand, is feasible from beginning of July to mid-August.

The paddy belts in Bihar are spread over districts such as Rohtas, Jehanabad, Patna, Bhojpur and Nalanda among others, mostly in north and central Bihar.

Rainfall deficiency

Weathermen claimed that the rainfall deficiency has dropped to 5 per cent and the rainfall in the month of July only has been 10 per cent excess from the respective normal for the month.

Ashish Sen, director, Patna Meteorological Centre claimed that a forecast was issued for heavy rain on the Bihar-Nepal border over the next 48 hours. The ongoing spell of rainfall has been attributed to a trough line in Bihar close to the foothills of the Himalayas. The evening bulletin of India Meteorological Department on Wednesday also forecast widespread rainfall in Bihar over the next four days.