Most districts in UP, Bihar and Jharkhand battle monsoon deficit

Paddy sowing slows down in the states, likely complicating the central government's plans for food stocks

India’s four-month-long southwest monsoon will in a few days enter its penultimate phase, prompting forecasters to track its performance in the east and northwest where rainfall has been scanty in some states.

Poor rains in Uttar Pradesh (UP), Bihar and other states affected paddy sowing, which till last week was around 17 per cent less than last year. Also affected is area under arhar (tur dal or pigeon pea), an important pulse grown during the kharif season.

The rest of the crops, as per an update on July 15, have recovered strongly in the last few weeks when the monsoon