Heavy Rains Bring Relief to Farmers in Bihar, Jharkhand

17-Jul-2025 01:02 PM

Patna. Many districts in Bihar and Jharkhand—two key rice-producing states in eastern India—have finally received good rainfall, bringing much-needed relief to farmers and boosting the pace of Kharif crop sowing.

These regions had been experiencing delayed and deficient monsoon rains, raising concerns among farmers as the critical sowing window was slipping away.

Heavy rains were recorded in several drought-affected districts of Bihar, including Gaya, Begusarai, and Munger, which had been waiting for rains for a long time.

The arrival of monsoon rains is expected to aid sowing operations and support standing crops, especially paddy, maize, and moong, which are cultivated extensively during the Kharif season in Bihar. Experts also believe that sugarcane crops will benefit significantly from the current rainfall.

The monsoon appears to be gaining strength in eastern India, with improved rainfall now being reported across states like West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Odisha over the past few days.

According to the Meteorological Department, the eastern and northeastern regions received 30% less rainfall than the normal average between July 1 and 15. The normal for that period is 148.2 mm.

From June 1 to July 15, these states received 421.1 mm of rainfall—22% less than the normal average of 540.2 mm. While some districts saw normal rainfall, many remained dry and drought-prone. However, with recent rains, conditions are improving, and a positive shift in the monsoon pattern appears to be underway.