Snow, rainfall makes farmers happy

By Netra Shahi/Rajan Rawat/Sher Bahadur Sarki

Jumla/Humla/Jajarkot, Mar. 2: After a prolonged dry spell, snowfall has finally blanketed the high Himalayan regions of Jumla. While the upper regions have received fresh snowfall, the lower regions have been experiencing rainfall since Friday evening.

For months, Jumla had been without rainfall, leaving agricultural lands dry. Now, both rain and snow are falling in the high-altitude farming areas. In Khalanga Bazaar, light rain has continued for 24 hours, while the surrounding hills are covered in snow.

Farmers had been depressed as nearly six months had passed without rain and even by March, there had been no snowfall. As a result, winter crops like barley and wheat had dried up. However, the recent snowfall and rain have revived hopes that some winter crops might survive.

Jaya Bahadur Budha, a farmer from Sinja Rural Municipality-6, expressed his relief, stating that the area received rain and snow late but was still beneficial. “This should have come in December or January, but we had given up hope. Now, at least, it will help,” he said.

According to agricultural expert Laxiram Mahat from the Agricultural Development Office, this snowfall and rainfall will have a positive impact on upcoming crops. He added that the precipitation would be particularly beneficial for walnut and apple saplings. The recent rainfall has provided much-needed moisture to the soil and snowfall in higher elevations has further improved conditions.

The rainfall and snowfall this time not only brought joy to farmers but also to the general public. The prolonged dry spell had led to the wilting of crops and an increase in seasonal illnesses like colds and viral fevers. 

Heavy snowfall has led to the closure of the Nagma-Gamgadhi highway. Roads in high-altitude areas, including Ghuchhilek, were blocked due to accumulated snow. The Jumla Road Division Office has deployed bulldozers to clear the roads, according to office chief Dipendra Chaudhary.

Similarly, in Humla, farmers are overjoyed as snowfall and rainfall have continued since Thursday. Due to a prolonged dry winter with little precipitation, the recent snowfall and rain have been highly beneficial for fruit saplings and crops.

Gagan Rokaya, a farmer from Simkot Rural Municipality-5, expressed relief that the snowfall would support recently grafted apple and walnut saplings. Previously, he had to carry water in containers to irrigate the young plants, but now the snowfall has eased this burden. 

Just a week ago, Rokaya grafted 900 apple and walnut trees and he believes many other farmers will also benefit from this snowfall. Many had planned to grow fruits and vegetables commercially but had been unable to proceed due to the drought. With this precipitation, agricultural activities are expected to resume.

Dal Bhandari, a farmer from Thehe village in Simkot Rural Municipality-2, described this combination of rain and snowfall as highly beneficial for farmers. Crops such as wheat, barley, and buckwheat, which had either failed to germinate or withered due to drought after being sown in October, are now expected to recover.