Agriculture scientist Sachidanand Upadhyaya, when interviewed by UCA News, said Bihar received had received barely 50 millimeters of monsoon-season rain this year through Aug. 19. The traditional starting date for the season is June 1. At least 575 millimeters of rain is needed to sustain rice plants, according to the agriculturalist, who said the state had targeted 3.7 million hectares for rice crops this year but could cover only 2.2 million hectares.

Even this reduced crop has perished, he continued. "Those who failed to sow at least escaped the expenses," Upadhyaya said, estimating planting costs at US$250 a hectare.

Bettiah, where Bishop Thakur's diocese is based, 980 kilometers east of New Delhi, is called Bihar's rice bowl. The magnitude of the drought and economic loss has prompted the diocese to help the people, the bishop explained. He said hundreds of members of the Church's self-help women's groups have written to authorities asking them to declare a drought disaster in the state.

Meanwhile, the local Church's social centers have prepared long-term drought combat plans. One initiative the prelate described is the promotion of low-cost paddle pumps to irrigate winter crops, planted during the November-March period. People pedal the pumps to bring ground water to the surface.

Yamuna Yadav, a farmer, said he has saved the rice crops in his 0.4-hectare field with the Church-sponsored paddle pump, which costs 800 rupees.

Jesuit Father Sudip Chacko, who works in Muzaffarpur diocese, also in northern Bihar, points out that the drought has caused a mass migration to cities. His diocese is helping youth to participate in government programs for the unemployed.

Father Francis Tirkey, administrator of Purnea diocese, in the eastern part of the state, says that there too they are wooing state officials to declare Bihar "drought-hit without delay."