Rajbiraj, July 30 Nepal Sadbhawana Party today organised a protest programme demanding that Saptari be declared a dry district, in Rajbiraj today. The demonstrators demanded relief compensation saying that local farmers had yet to plant paddy due to lack of irrigation. They sent a memorandum to Prime Minister Sushil Koirala through Chief District Officer Birendra Kumar Yadav on behalf of the party after the protest programme. Paddy has been planted in not even one-fourth of the 69 hectare land in the district. The paddy that was planted has also gone dry due to the long drought and lack of water. They have demanded, through the memorandum, that the government provide tube-wells, diesel engine sets and electric motors, among others, for alternative farming in the district. The NSP district Chairman Subi Yadav and Nepal Peasant Forum central Chairman Jageshwor Raya signed the memorandum. They said that the government has to addressed farmers’ plight as they had suffered much. The memorandum has sought agriculture loan, interest free loan and fertiliser, among other.