Tikapur (Kailali), Oct 17 : The
untimely rainfall has disappointed farmers in Kailali district. The rainfall
occurred since Monday afternoon upset farmers as they were about to harvest
rice.
They were worried how they could
harvest rice safely amidst such erratic weather event.
A farmer from Tikapur, Nirmal BK,
said the rice cut down and spread to dry in the field is wet with the ill-timed
rainfall. "I waited for a tractor to collect the crop, but it did not
come. The rainfall drenched the rice. The storm has further strewn it. If the
rainfall continues, the crop will perish in the field," he shared the
plight.
Similarly, another farmer Padam Oli
shared that rice is ripe in the field. He did not cut the rice, worrying about
storms on Monday, but the rains coupled with storm damaged ripe rice. "If
the rainfall does not stop, it certainly damages the crop," he said,
wondering, "Why does rainfall occur when it is time to harvest the
rice?"
Most of the farmers in Kailali
district are upset much, reasoning rainfall occurs when they are ready to
harvest rice. They experienced it for three years. It has resulted in loss of
production.
"In 2078BS, the floods
triggered by the rainfall swept away the harvest time rice. Last year, we were
able to save half of the crops due to early warning," said Hari Chaudhary,
adding,
"We have not harvested rice reasoning erratic weather. But the storm coupled with rainfall has damaged half yield this year too. The adverse weather is bane for farmers.
Moreover another Parbati Chaudhari
informed that the rice cut down and spread to dry in the field could not be
saved due to sudden change in weather. Only half of the crop was saved, she
added.
Meanwhile, Tikapur Municipality and
Janaki Rural Municipality have suggested the farmers waiting for some days to
harvest rice. (RSS)