Dhanusha Farmers Face Crop Failure Amid Adverse Weather Conditions

Dhanusha. Agriculture is the primary occupation for most residents of Madhesh Province, with wheat serving as the second most important crop after paddy. In Dhanusha district alone, wheat is cultivated across 34,000 hectares. However, due to strong winds and hailstorms at the beginning of Chaitra, the crops have failed to develop healthy grains.

Farmers are frustrated and worried as their investments in tractor plowing, irrigation, fertilizers, and hard labor are not yielding returns. Billa Shah, a farmer from Janakpur Sub-Metropolitan City-23, stated, "Despite timely irrigation and fertilizer application, the wheat crop did not thrive. Pest infestations and unfavorable weather prevented the grains from maturing. This year, all our investments have been lost."

Ramji Yadav from Mukhiyapatti shares a similar plight, noting that the winds dried out the crops, leaving the grains black and underdeveloped. Jyoti Jha from Nagarain Municipality-5 is anxious about losing his primary source of income, fearing how he will repay loans and sustain his family throughout the year.

Dhanusha experiences annual fluctuations in production. According to the Agriculture Knowledge Center, yields have varied from 97,150 metric tons to 103,850 metric tons in previous years. However, this year, production is expected to drop significantly due to adverse weather, pests, and a lack of quality seeds, irrigation, and fertilizers. Authorities remain silent on these issues.

Ganesh Chhetri, an agriculture officer at the Agriculture Knowledge Center in Dhanusha, stated that precise data on the damage is not yet available. "During our monitoring, we observed some scattered instances of flattened wheat stalks. We anticipate the damage may not be extensive, but the exact details will only be known after reports from local levels are received," he said.

Madhesh Province is considered the most fertile region for wheat production in the country, yet the government lacks updated and reliable data. According to the latest statistics from the Directorate of Agricultural Development, the province produced 731,000 metric tons of wheat across 178,433 hectares.

Wheat is nutritionally vital. Dr. Jayant Mishra explains that it is rich in carbohydrates, fiber, protein, and Vitamin B complex. Containing magnesium and potassium, it is considered an excellent food source that aids in improving the digestive system.

Farmers are disillusioned as government support remains limited to empty promises. The lack of an agricultural-friendly environment is a primary reason why farmers are abandoning the profession and migrating for foreign employment.