Rain brings both hardship and hope for farmers

By Lumbini Province Bureau 

Lumbini, Oct. 29: Following the end of the festival, continuous rainfall across several districts of Nepal has had mixed effects on farmers, damaging paddy crops in some regions while reviving hopes for wheat and mustard cultivation in others.

Paddy fields flooded in Gulmi and Palpa

Hundreds of hectares of paddy fields in Gulmi and Palpa have been inundated due to incessant rains. Both harvested and standing paddy crops have been waterlogged, and in some places, the grains have started to sprout prematurely.

Man Bahadur Khatri, a farmer from Musikot Municipality–2, expressed his concern, saying, “Both the paddy and straw left in the field have begun to rot.” 

Similarly, farmers such as Purna Shrestha and Krishna Ghimire from Isma Rural Municipality have suffered major losses.

According to the Agriculture Knowledge Centre (AKC), Gulmi, paddy production in the district is expected to drop by 2,220 metric tonnes this year. The areas of Arbeni, Limgha, Johang, and Rupakot are among the worst affected. 

Information officer of the centre, Tikaram Neupane, said the untimely rainfall has caused significant crop loss. Last year, 7,120 hectares of land yielded 23,140 metric tonnes of paddy, but this year the cultivated area has dropped to 7,048 hectares and yields are expected to decline further due to rain damage.

In Palpa, farmers in Rampur, Madi and Argali are also worried that the rain has spoiled paddy stored in the fields. 

The AKC Palpa reported that paddy was cultivated over 8,620 hectares this year. About half the farmers had harvested their crops before Tihar, while others were preparing to harvest when the rain disrupted their plans.

Concern grows in Dang and Bardiya

In Dang, farmers who had planned to harvest their paddy after Tihar have been forced to halt work due to the downpour. Farmers Manoj BK and Sher Bahadur Chaudhary from Ghorahi said their harvested paddy, left in the fields, is now at risk of rotting.

AKC Dang’s information officer Prithvi Raj Lamichhane warned, “If the rain continues for another two to three days, the paddy could start sprouting in the fields.”

In Bardiya, even paddy already harvested and spread for drying has become wet again. 

Saraswoti Adhikari, a farmer from Madhuwan Municipality–7, said, “We harvested the paddy thinking the rains were over, but now it’s soaked. If this continues, it will start sprouting.”

According to officials, around 35 per cent of Bardiya’s paddy crop is still awaiting harvest.

Rain brings relief in Arghakhanchi

While the rainfall has been troublesome in most districts, farmers in Arghakhanchi are welcoming it with joy. Those who recently sowed wheat and mustard say the rain has come as a blessing.

“The October rain is like oil for farmers,” said Devi Kunwar of Malarani Rural Municipality–5, expressing happiness that the moisture will help seeds germinate and boost production.

Field reports by Toplal Aryal (Resunga), Rekhiram Rana (Tansen), Liladhar Wali (Dang), Yagya Prasad Sapkota (Bardiya), and Ganesh Khanal (Arghakhanchi)