THIS year’s monsoon, according to meteorologists, will arrive in the country seven to ten days later than the normal arrival time. The information from the Nepali weather experts is likely to frustrate our farmers, who require monsoon rainfalls to get their paddy seedlings ready for planting in time. Since the monsoon period that brings large amount of rainfalls for an extended period in the country is the main time for planting paddy all across the nation, the delay in its arrival is likely to upset the farmers, because inability in planting paddy crops in time will give them less yields. The shortfall in paddy production will hit both farmers’ income and nation’s agro based economy.

The delay in monsoon arrival is due to the weather patterns that took place a few weeks ago in the region. The two tropical cyclonic systems - Amphan that originated in the Bay of Bengal and Nisarga that formed in the Arabian Sea - disturbed the normal weather patterns of the region causing a delay in the arrival of monsoon in Nepal. According to experts, it would take another two or three weeks to develop another weather system once an existing one comes to pass. Normally, monsoon that first enters in India's states of Kerala and then Karnataka begins in Nepal from June 10 and lasts till September 23. But due to climactic conditions that have currently existed in South Asian region, monsoon is not likely to begin before June 15 this year. In Kerala, where monsoon generally starts from June 1, has arrived on June 5 this year.

It is said that even when monsoon arrives in the country, not all parts of country would receive same amount of rainfalls. According to weather experts, the State-1, Bagamati and Gandaki states will receive average rainfall while other states would get below average rainfall. This phenomenon is likely to affect farmers from other four states, especially from the State 2 and 5 that are regarded as the rice-bowl of the country. These two states, along with State 1, account for the largest amount of rice production in the country. Lack of sufficient amount of rainfalls during the paddy plantation season coupled with insufficient irrigation facilities may hit the production in the two states.

Apart from aiding to boost the production of seasonal crops across the country, monsoon in the country is held in awe for an apparent reason: the monsoon is the time for the water-induced disasters in the country. The rugged terrains and difficult topography make the country an apt place for water-induced disasters such as floods, inundation and landslides. The rivers, both big and small, often swell even when the country receives normal or average rainfalls. As such, the monsoon period is the time that frequently gives a myriad of troubles to our authorities and common folks, who are currently grappling with the coronavirus outbreak in the country. As rainy system is expected to arrive here after the second week of June, our authority requires preparing well in advance to tackle all kinds of monsoon-related disasters. It must therefore keep all its apparatuses ready to deal with any eventuality taking place during this period, so that damage and losses of lives and properties can be kept at the minimum.