Drought affects farmers in Karnali

SURKHET, June 12: Dilaram Acharya, a farmer from Lekbesi Municipality-10 Maindada, had already planted paddy seeds in late June last year. But he hasn't been able to plant the seeds this year because of the drought. "I wanted to plant the seeds after rainfall. But rain won't fall", he told Ratopati. 

Acharya plants 30 kg of paddy seeds every year. He has been making a living through agriculture and raising livestock. This time however, due to the drought, it is difficult to even get drinking water.

Not just him, most of the farmers of that village shared the same pain. Deuram Budha from Thatikadh Rural Municipality-1 Dailekh had planted about 60 kg of corn seeds in his field. 

There is a custom of planting corn twice in his area. But due to the drought, nearby rivers dried up and he couldn't water the crops. When the corn started to die, he expressed his grief. "I have never experienced a drought like this one before", he exclaimed.

Kamala Shahi, a farmer from Shivalaya Rural Municipality-5 Thala Raikar Jajarkot, also informed that corn planted in her field has dried up. The drought this year has affected farmers all over the country.