Siraha: Even as the month of Asar, the most ideal time for paddy transplantation, is nearing its end, most of the paddy fields in Siraha remain barren. The situation has arisen due to insufficient rainfall and a shortage of fertilizers, which have significantly impacted paddy planting activities.
According to National News Agency Nepal, farmers in the region, heavily reliant on rainfall for paddy farming, are eagerly awaiting rain and hoping for government intervention to supply the much-needed chemical fertilizers. While the monsoon has been active in most parts of the country, Madhes Province has experienced limited rainfall.
Ram Kumar Yadav, a farmer from Lahan Municipality-23 in Siraha, reported that transplantation activities have stalled due to the lack of rain. “We have ploughed the fields and prepared the seedlings, but neither rain nor fertilizer has arrived,” he stated. The fields are beginning to dry due to inadequate rainfall, and DAP fertilizer, essential for providing nutrients to paddy plants post-transplantation, is not available in the market.
Kiran Bishwakarma, Information Officer of the Agriculture Knowledge Centre, Siraha, noted that only 18 percent of the 54,000 hectares designated for paddy farming have been transplanted so far. Insufficient rain could further delay the remaining transplantation, directly impacting production. Meteorologists indicate that it will take a few more days for the monsoon to fully activate across Madhes.
Pradeep Singh Danuwar, chair of the Nepal National Farmers’ Group, Siraha, emphasized that without timely government intervention for fertilizer supply and long-term irrigation solutions, paddy farmers will continue to face challenges, potentially leading to decreased production of this staple grain.