SUDURPASCHIM, July 26: Due to the monsoon failing to become fully active in Kailali and other districts of the Sudurpaschim Province, paddy crops have started to be affected by the resulting drought.
In the absence of adequate rainfall, paddy transplanted with water pumped from deep tubewells (borings) is now at risk as the fields have begun to crack due to the ongoing dry and hot weather, according to local farmers. Expressing concern, farmer Harilal Chaudhary said that the prolonged dry spell and drought over the past two weeks have started drying up the main crop, paddy.
“We had transplanted paddy during the third week of June by pumping water from bore wells,” he said. “But the drought caused by insufficient rainfall over the last two weeks has started drying the crops.”
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As of the 25th of July, the monsoon has still not become fully active in districts such as Kailali and Kanchanpur. Although the monsoon entered the country 15 days earlier than the average date this year, the system has failed to gain momentum, according to the Mahakali Basin Field Office of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology based in Attariya.
Sanjay Shah, head of the office, said, “On June 30, rainfall of 212.2 millimeters was recorded in the Dhangadhi area, but there has not been any significant rainfall since then.”
Chief Shah added that the failure of the monsoon to become fully active is an emerging issue caused by the impacts of climate change. Agricultural technicians have warned of increased risks of weed growth and pest infestations in paddy fields transplanted with insufficient water.
It is said that due to climate change, rainfall is either delayed or insufficient when needed, or when it does rain, it leads to major problems like flooding and inundation, as well as untimely cyclones and storms.
Scorching heat worsens daily life
The sweltering heat that has intensified over the past two weeks has made life difficult in Kailali and neighboring districts. The increasing temperatures have made it difficult for people to carry out daily work or even walk outside, leading to worsening living conditions.
Locals say that the rising heat and suffocating nights have made it difficult to sleep. “I’ve had to bathe repeatedly to stay cool, but I’ve been unable to sleep at night for the past five days due to the suffocating heat,” said local resident Yagya Raj Bhatt.
The heat has had a greater impact on daily wage earners, the elderly, and school-going children. Although the maximum temperature has not risen significantly, the rise in relative humidity and minimum temperature has made the heat feel even more intense, said Chief Shah of the Mahakali Basin Field Office.
