Official sources said the state agriculture department would provide diesel subsidy of Rs 20 per litre to boost irrigation of kharif crops due to uneven distribution of rains in some districts.
The state cabinet at its meeting held on July 19 had sanctioned Rs 200 crore as advance from Rs 619.75 crore from Bihar contingency fund, as diesel subsidy to boost kharif yield in view of deficit rainfall in the first fortnight of June.
Farmers in Saharsa which has 84 per cent deficit rainfall, Nawada (71), Buxar (71), Jamui (59), Sheikhpura and Katihar (46), Begusarai (44) and Khagaria and Samastipur (43) districts are still struggling against deficit rainfall, according to figures provided by Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).
State Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh said problems like non-functioning of government tubewells and lack of irrigation needed to be resolved.
