KATHMANDU: Although the monsoon has been active across much of the country for over a month and a half, eight districts in Madhesh Province have yet to receive significant rainfall.
The prolonged dry spell has left farmers grappling with severe drought conditions. In many areas, farmers who rely solely on rainwater for paddy cultivation have been unable to plant their crops — even into the last week of July — due to a lack of irrigation.
The Madhesh provincial government declared eight districts as drought-affected on July 10. Following suit, the federal cabinet also declared Madhesh a disaster-affected province during a meeting on Shrawan 7.
The water shortage has prevented timely paddy transplantation in several districts, causing paddy fields to crack and rice seeds to dry out before they can take root.
Already struggling with recurring fertilizer shortages each year, farmers in Madhesh are now facing yet another crisis—an unrelenting drought that threatens their livelihoods.
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