Maize crops in 170 hectares of farm go dry due to drought

By Gokul Bhujel,Bhojour, Aug. 2: Maize planted in around 170 hectares of land in Arun Rural Municipality of Bhojpur district has been damaged by drought.

According to the authorities, drought damaged the crops in Jarayotar of Ward No. 6 and Sikretar of Ward No. 7 of the rural municipality. A majority of the villagers from Arun cultivate maize as their source of livelihood.

The drought was a result of a lack of rain during the monsoon season (June-July). Farmers informed that the maize plants dried up in the field due to a shortage of water.

"I produced around 20 to 30 muris (one muri = around 80 kilograms) of maize in my fields annually. However, when I visit the fields this season, I am left devastated as the plants have dried up," said Narayan Thapa, a local farmer.

Farmers in the area stressed that they feared an acute food shortage for themselves as well as the cattle due to the damage.

"We are coordinating and discussing with provincial and federal authorities for compensation to the drought-affected farmers," said Rabindra Sapkota, chief of Arun Rural Municipality's agriculture section.

Meanwhile, farmers of Yaku, a village in Ward No. 5 of Arun, are also in distress as the maize plants are getting destroyed by pests.

"The pests have been identified in the fields of 75 per cent farmers," said Nabaraj Phuyal, a local farmer of Yaku.

According to Bhojpur-based Agriculture Knowledge Centre, pests such as blast and gamarra were damaging the crops in Yaku.

"The centre plans to provide pesticides to the farmers at the earliest," said Yogendra Rai, an assistant technician at the centre.

The ward chairpersons of the affected wards have echoed the need for support from the higher-ups to prevent similar damages in the future and to provide compensation to the farmers.

"Drought and damage by pests are unprecedented. However, effective preventive measures can be of great help and we will make sure to remain preventive in the upcoming days," said Binita Dhakal, deputy chairperson of Arun Rural Municipality.

The rural municipality has been inspecting the damage at the local level to prepare a report and seek necessary compensation.

"Earlier, landslides and floods affected some settlements in Ward Nos. 1 and 2. The lumpy skin disease then spread and caused heavy damage. Now, the drought has added more problems to the farmers," said Shalikram Khatri, chairman of Arun Rural Municipality.

Khatri informed that the local level would also prepare an action plan against the problems such as drought.

Stakeholders have also suggested for the construction of lift water projects, canals and ponds to manage proper irrigation facilities throughout the local level.