PATNA, July 14 -- Deficit rains in Bihar have started impacting the kharif season with paddy transplantation showing low coverage. So far, farmers have completed only 19.51% of their goal, planting 7.38 lakh hectares out of the targeted area of 37.83 lakh hectares this season, according to data from the agriculture department. On the bright side, the area covered by paddy transplantation this year is much higher compared to last year. Data shows that 3.578 lakh hectares were covered out of the targeted 37.453 lakh hectares, which was an achievement of 9.55% against the targeted area of cultivation in the corresponding period last year. The maize crop has also had a slow start this season, with the area of cultivation standing at 1.796 lakh hectares against the targeted 2.701 lakh hectares, which is 66.50% of the targeted area. In 2025, it was just 32.79% of the targeted area of cultivation in the corresponding period. Agriculture officials said paddy transplantation has started picking up in many districts especially in north Bihar whereas it is delayed in south Bihar, which goes up to August 15. Paddy transplantation in north Bihar already started from the end of June. Special secretary, agriculture department, Birendra Prasad Yadav said that the department was keeping a close watch on the paddy transplantation and an overall picture of the coverage would emerge only after August 15 when south Bihar districts are covered. "In south Bihar, long-duration varieties of paddy are sown whereas in many north Bihar districts, short-duration varieties are sown. It depends on farmers who opt their varieties depending on the weather and rains. Only after August mid-week, we can get an overall picture of the coverage and also what kind of productivity of paddy would take place this kharif season," said Yadav. Officials said the deficit rains and dry spells in the monsoon season may have spoiled paddy transplantation in some districts but there are chances, the situation could improve in coming weeks with forecasts from the meteorological department that there would be higher rains in the first week of August. "If we compare the coverage of paddy transplantation so far in the last few weeks to the corresponding period last year, the situation is better. Last year, we had long dry spells during the rainy season and there was also deficit rain. But productivity of paddy and rice was quite good," said an official, seeking anonymity. Data shows that out of the targeted cultivation area of 42 lakh hectares for all crops in the kharif season, the coverage for all crops is 9.67 lakh hectares which is 22.99% of the total targeted cultivation area. Last year, in the corresponding period till July 14, the cultivated area of all crops stood at 5 lakh hectares, which was 11.82% of the targeted cultivation area. Bihar has so far witnessed a rain shortfall of 47% from July 1 to 12 this year whereas last year in the corresponding period, the rain deficit was a staggering 76.2% than normal, data said. Officials said 73.4 mm of rainfall has been recorded against a normal rainfall of 138.2 mm from July 1 to 12 this year. "The situation is still not very bleak though we are a bit apprehensive that productivity may go down slightly for the paddy crop this season if there is a higher deficit of rainfall this time. In that case, the government will roll out assistance for farmers like encouraging them to grow alternative crops and also give monetary assistance for irrigation," said another official. In the year 2025-26, the overall production of foodgrains was estimated at 212 lakh metric tonnes of which rice production stood at 88 lakh metric tonnes while wheat production stood at 72.37 lakh metric tonnes, according to the second advance estimate....