TIKAPUR, OCTOBER 17
Untimely rainfall has disappointed farmers in Kailali district. The rainfall that occurred from Monday afternoon upset farmers as they were about to harvest rice.
They were worried how they could harvest rice safely amidst such erratic weather event.
A farmer from Tikapur, Nirmal BK, said the rice cut and spread to dry in the field had become wet with the ill-timed rainfall. "I waited for a tractor to collect the crop, but it did not come. The rainfall drenched the rice. The storm has further strewn it. If the rainfall continues, the crop will perish in the field," he shared his plight.
Similarly, another farmer Padam Oli shared that rice is ripe in the field. He did not cut the rice, worrying about storms on Monday, but the rains coupled with storm damaged ripe rice. "If the rainfall does not stop, it will certainly damage the crop," he said, wondering, "Why does rainfall occur when it is time to harvest rice?"
Most of the farmers in Kailali district are upset because rainfall has occurs at a time when they are ready to harvest rice. They experienced it for three years. It has resulted in loss of production.
"In 2021, the floods triggered by rainfall swept away the harvest time rice. Last year, we were able to save half of the crops due to early warning," said Hari Chaudhary, adding, "We have not harvested rice reasoning erratic weather. But the storm coupled with rainfall has damaged half the yield this year. The adverse weather is a bane for farmers.
Moreover Parbati Chaudhari informed that the rice cut and spread to dry in the field could not be saved due to sudden change in weather. Only half of the crop was saved, she added.
Meanwhile, Tikapur Municipality and Janaki Rural Municipality have suggested that the farmers wait for some days to harvest rice.
A version of this article appears in the print on October 18, 2023, of The Himalayan Times
