Rainfall Revives Hope for Madhesh Farmers as Paddy Plantation Gains Momentum

Janakpurdham. The recent two-three days of rainfall have brought new hope to the farmers of Madhesh, who were worried about the drought and lack of adequate rainfall for several weeks. With timely rain, paddy transplantation has started to gain pace, and farmers who cultivate relying on rainwater are also returning to their fields.

Previously, paddy transplantation was only happening in areas irrigated by canals, channels, pumpsets, and motors. However, due to the lack of rain, fields dependent on rainwater were left barren. Farmers say that the current rainfall has created an environment for starting transplantation even in those fields.

Sohan Thakur, a farmer from Pipra Rural Municipality in Mahottari, said that the rain has brought back smiles to the faces of farmers. According to him, if it rains well for another two-four days, paddy can be easily transplanted in most of the fields where transplantation has not yet occurred.

Sitaram Yadav, a farmer from Laxminiya Rural Municipality in Dhanusha, was seen busy with paddy transplantation, singing along with the rain. He said, 'If it rains like this for a few more days, we won't have to depend on motors and boring. Even the fields of small and poor farmers like us can be easily transplanted.'

However, not all problems have been solved. According to Rajkishor Raut, a farmer from Janaknandini Rural Municipality, transplantation is being affected by a shortage of laborers to plant the paddy, despite sufficient rainfall. 'If the weather changes and the rain stops while waiting for laborers, there is a fear that the fields will remain barren again,' he said.

Farmers who still have paddy transplantation to do have rushed to the fields with the continuous rainfall. Water flow in streams and rivulets has increased, and the public has felt relief from the extreme heat due to the rainfall over the last two-four days. However, locals have also faced hardship due to intermittent power outages with the change in weather.

According to Kiran Bishwakarma, Horticulture Development Officer at the Directorate of Agricultural Development under the Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives, only about 33 percent of paddy transplantation has been completed so far in Madhesh Province. District-wise, Saptari has 38 percent, Siraha 45 percent, Dhanusha 35 percent, Mahottari 25.39 percent, Sarlahi 30.41 percent, Rautahat 16 percent, Bara 22 percent, and Parsa 40 percent of paddy transplantation has been done.

Hope has rekindled among the farmers of Madhesh. If the rainfall continues, paddy transplantation and production are expected to increase.