Storms flatten maize crops in Tarai

By Our Correspondent,Sarlahi, Mar. 18: Strong winds on Monday evening have damaged maize crops in Sarlahi district, leaving farmers concerned about heavy losses.

Farmers have reported that maize plants, which were at the tasselling stage, were flattened by the storm. 

Nabaraj Adhikari of Bagmati Municipality–3, Jirayati, said that maize crops planted by most farmers in the area had been knocked down and destroyed.

“With the crop nearing harvest, the sudden storm has caused serious concern among farmers,” he said, adding that maize cultivated with significant investment in fertiliser, irrigation and labour was ruined within just 10 minutes of strong winds.

The storm swept across Sarlahi and neighbouring districts on Monday evening at high speed, though it did not bring rainfall.

Dhruva Prasad Prasai of Haripur Municipality–2, Sakhua, said that while other crops were not significantly affected, maize fields suffered extensive damage. He noted that plants at the stage of ear formation had been flattened.

Hybrid maize cultivation has become a major source of income for farmers in Sarlahi in recent years. 

The storm has primarily affected this key crop. According to Kamaldev Prasad Kushwaha, Chief of the Agriculture Knowledge Centre in Sarlahi, complaints of damage have been received from Bagmati and Barahathawa municipalities.

He said local agricultural branches will collect detailed data on the losses. Around 12,500 hectares of land in Sarlahi are under hybrid maize cultivation.

Electricity and internet services were also disrupted following the storm. While power supply in market areas resumed overnight, it remains irregular, and rural areas have faced outages since Monday evening, according to locals.

The storm also damaged roofs made of tiles and corrugated sheets in several places.

Hailstorm and winds damage crops in Sunsari

Meanwhile, a hailstorm accompanied by strong winds on Monday night has damaged maize, wheat and vegetable crops in Sunsari district, leaving farmers worried.

Farmers in southern parts of the district, including the headquarters Inaruwa, reported significant losses. According to local farmer Shambhu Yadav, crops had already suffered minor damage from hail in northern areas on Sunday afternoon, but Monday night’s storm extended the destruction to southern regions.

Maize, wheat, lentils and vegetables have been affected in areas including Babia, Jalpapur and Madhesa in Inaruwa, and Ramnagar Bhutaha and Basantapur in Harinagar and Dewanganj Rural Municipalities.

Farmer Jasalal Yadav of Inaruwa–9, Babiya, said partial damage to maize grown on one and a half bighas of land, while Shiva Narayan Yadav said two bighas of maize crop was completely destroyed. Similarly, Satruhan Yadav lost wheat grown on 10 katthas of land, while Bidhyanand Yadav’s maize, vegetables and onions were also ruined.

“Garlic and onions cultivated with great effort were destroyed within an hour by the storm and hail,” said one farmer.

In Ramdhuni Municipality–8, several farmers, including Bhagwat Thakur, reported total losses of maize and wheat. Vegetable crops grown both commercially and for household use were also destroyed, said local farmer Buddhilal Mehta.

He estimated that nearly 1,000 bighas of wheat and maize crops in the Babia area alone had been damaged.

Upendra Yadav of Inaruwa–9 also reported significant losses to his maize crop.

Agriculture Development Officer Kuber Niraula of the Inaruwa Agriculture Branch said maize is cultivated on around 60 per cent of arable land in the municipality, with wheat covering 30 per cent and the remainder used for vegetables and pulses. He said the full extent of the damage is yet to be assessed.

According to him, maize at tasselling stage and those with developing ears have been completely destroyed, while both mature and maturing wheat crops have also suffered damage. Climbing plants and vegetables have likewise been affected.