Snowfall recorded in mid-March, farmers happy

By Harikrishna Sharma,Muktinath (Mustang), Mar. 17: Mustang has witnessed snowfall for the fourth time this year. Although heavy snowfall earlier affected daily life in Upper Mustang, the recent snowfall accompanied by a slight rise in temperature has been welcomed by locals.

Light snowfall was recorded in all five rural municipalities of Mustang, bringing relief and excitement to farmers engaged in agriculture and livestock farming. Angyal Gurung, a herder from Chhoser in Lomanthang Rural Municipality-1 of Upper Mustang, said the snowfall during the warmer season will help the grass to grow in grazing areas and make livestock rearing easier.

Since December, sub-zero temperatures and heavy snowfall had resulted in a shortage of grass in high-altitude pastures, forcing farmers to keep their yaks and mountain goats near settlements. Gurung said the recent snowfall will make it easier to move livestock back to grazing areas in the coming season.

“The snowfall in the second week of March, which has covered the pastures completely, has brought relief,” Gurung said. “If we can keep our goats in the grazing areas for a longer time, it will greatly help farmers.”

In previous years, lack of snowfall had caused grass shortage in pastures, forcing farmers in Upper Mustang to carry imported feed to grazing areas at altitudes of up to 4,700 metres above sea level.

Dr. Lalmani Aryal, chief of the Agriculture and Livestock Development Office in Mustang, said farmers involved in agriculture and livestock farming had been worried about declining snowfall. However, this year’s snowfall has brought some relief.

“This snowfall has proved to be a blessing for agriculture and livestock farming. Snow accumulation in the high mountains will be very beneficial in winter,” he said.

He added that snowfall was recorded in higher regions on March 15. Snowfall also helps maintain suitable temperatures for yaks and mountain goats in grazing areas. 

In Upper Mustang, where farmers harvest crops in October/November (Kartik) and move to lower areas during the cold season, snowfall supports the production of single annual crop.

Although crops are not grown regularly in winter, moisture in the fields helps improve the yield of summer crops and apple farming. Snowfall also benefits the production of apples, sour fruits, potatoes and other agricultural products.

According to the Agriculture and Livestock Development Office, rainfall and snowfall have been recorded in Thasang, Gharapjhong and Muktikshetra areas of the district. In Lo-Ghekar Damodarkunda and Lomanthang rural municipalities, snowfall also helps reduce the spread of various diseases.

The office said that while the lack of sufficient irrigation has often reduced agricultural production, heavy snow and rainfall this year are expected to improve yields.

Meanwhile, our Bajura correspondent Sher Bahadur Sharki reported that snowfall accompanied by rainfall has been recorded in the high-altitude areas of Bajura. The snowfall occurred on Sunday evening along with rain.

Snow fell in higher regions of the district, including Himali, Swamikartik Khapar, Jagannath, Budhinanda, Triveni and Khaptad Chhededaha.

While snowfall was reported in the Himalayan belt, some other areas experienced rain and hailstorms. Although the rain has provided relief to farmers, the hail has caused some damage to wheat crops.

Local farmers said hailstorms, which usually occur between March and May, often cause significant damage to winter crops, especially wheat.

Meanwhile, our Mugu correspondent Hari Bahadur Aidi said that Rara Lake, one of the main tourist destinations of Karnali Province, has been blanketed in the wake of snowfall that began on Sunday night.

According to the Rara National Park Office, the snowfall has covered areas around Hutu and Milichaur with up to one foot of snow, turning the lake and surrounding forests white as if coated in silver.

Basudev Devkota, a domestic tourist who travelled from Surkhet to visit the lake, said both domestic and foreign visitors were enjoying in the snow. He remarked that Rara truly feels like ‘a piece of heaven.’

Acting chief of the park office, Rishikesh Yadav, said this is the second snowfall in the Rara area this year. According to him, around five inches of snow has accumulated so far, and snowfall is still continuing.

He said that the lake area had also received about two inches of snow in the month of Poush. Data from the park office show that by the end of the month of Falgun, around 10,000 domestic and foreign tourists had visited Rara.

However, the snowfall in mid-March has affected daily life in the district due to the cold. Residents from villages to the district headquarters are spending their days keeping warm by the fire.

In Murma village, located about an hour's walk above Rara Lake at an altitude of around 3,200 metres above sea level, nearly two feet of snow has accumulated.

Nanda Singh Rokaya, a local resident of Chhayanath Rara Municipality–8, said that while the snowfall has made farmers happy as it will benefit winter crops, it has created difficulties for grazing livestock and collecting grass and firewood.