<p>Twenty six of Bihar's 38 districts were declared drought-hit on Monday in view of scanty rainfall that has badly hit transplanting of paddy seedlings and affected millions of farmers, officials said.<br /><br />The state government has also announced steps to deal with the drought, including additional diesel subsidy and suspension of loan recovery.<br /><br />Official sources said that the decision was taken in a special cabinet meeting on Monday. <br /><br />Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had called an all-party meeting on Sunday where representatives of the parties assessed the situation and agreed to the proposal to declare at least 26 districts drought-hit.</p>.<p>The decision came after the ministers in charge of each district, who had been asked to assess the situation, submitted their reports.<br /><br />The districts declared drought-hit include Siwan, Bhojpur, Gaya, Nalanda, Jehanabad, Rohtas, Vaishali, Saran, Begusarai, Arwal, Aurangabad, Nawada, Patna and Kaimur.<br />Bihar has recorded a 42 percent rainfall deficit so far this monsoon season. This has hit the transplanting of paddy seedlings.<br /><br />"The state during the period between June 1 and Aug 6 had received just 331.7 mm of rainfall against the average 568.5 mm -- a deficiency of 42 percent. It has resulted in 58 percent decline in paddy transplantation," an agriculture department official said.<br /><br />Bihar had targeted sowing of paddy in 8,772,241 acres this year, but the crop could only be planted in only 3,822,967 acres so far.</p>
<p>Twenty six of Bihar's 38 districts were declared drought-hit on Monday in view of scanty rainfall that has badly hit transplanting of paddy seedlings and affected millions of farmers, officials said.<br /><br />The state government has also announced steps to deal with the drought, including additional diesel subsidy and suspension of loan recovery.<br /><br />Official sources said that the decision was taken in a special cabinet meeting on Monday. <br /><br />Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had called an all-party meeting on Sunday where representatives of the parties assessed the situation and agreed to the proposal to declare at least 26 districts drought-hit.</p>.<p>The decision came after the ministers in charge of each district, who had been asked to assess the situation, submitted their reports.<br /><br />The districts declared drought-hit include Siwan, Bhojpur, Gaya, Nalanda, Jehanabad, Rohtas, Vaishali, Saran, Begusarai, Arwal, Aurangabad, Nawada, Patna and Kaimur.<br />Bihar has recorded a 42 percent rainfall deficit so far this monsoon season. This has hit the transplanting of paddy seedlings.<br /><br />"The state during the period between June 1 and Aug 6 had received just 331.7 mm of rainfall against the average 568.5 mm -- a deficiency of 42 percent. It has resulted in 58 percent decline in paddy transplantation," an agriculture department official said.<br /><br />Bihar had targeted sowing of paddy in 8,772,241 acres this year, but the crop could only be planted in only 3,822,967 acres so far.</p>
