39 ‘large deficit’ districts in Bihar, U.P. Paddy sowing is lagging behind in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh as eastern India faces a 40% deficit in monsoon rains. In those States, 39 districts fall in the India Meteorological Department’s “large deficit” category, which means they are seeing 60%-90% shortfall.The area covered by kharif paddy crops is lower than normal at this point in the season, with a 12% drop seen nationwide. As on July 20, only 156.5 lakh hectares have seen paddy sowing, according to the Agriculture Ministry. In the corresponding week last year, it was more than 178.7 lakh hectares. That’s a shortage of almost 23 lakh hectares. The lag is much more pronounced in the eastern States. In