Kathmandu. Paddy sowing in Madhes province, known as the country’s granary, has been severely affected this year due to adverse monsoon.

According to the Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives of Madhes Province, only 47 per cent sowing has been completed in Madhes province so far. Farmers in Mahottari are worried as they have not been able to sow paddy due to lack of rain for a long time. Only about 30 percent of the saplings have been planted in the district.

Mahottari has a total of 71,570 hectares of cultivable land, out of which 64,977 hectares are under cultivation.

Although the farmers in the north-western part of the district have been able to sow 25 percent with the help of motor, diesel pump, rivers, wells, wells, sawals and tubewells, the planting condition across the district is not satisfactory.

Due to lack of rain, the paddy beds of the farmers have started drying up and the paddy fields planted by the farmers have started cracking. On the recommendation of the Madhes province government, the federal council of ministers has already declared the province as a disaster-prone area for three months.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli visited the drought-hit areas of Madhes yesterday. Prime Minister Oli visited Madhes by helicopter.

Prime Minister Oli will also participate in programmes in Mahottari and Bara. He also said that he will talk to the farmers there. The government has decided to declare Madhes as a disaster-prone area for a period of three months.

In Mahottari district, the fields of ward no. 7 and 8 of Matihani municipality are mostly dry.

According to Islam Kawadi, a local of the same village, this year there was no water not only for farming but also for drinking. He said that farming should also be done on the basis of water of the sky, but this year it will not be cultivated.

The fields of local Shanti Khatwa have also not been cultivated this year due to drought and drought. She said that even though those with money plant paddy using pumpsets, we had to depend on the water of the sky.

The farmers of the area are now praying for water, while some are waiting for the help and assistance of the concerned authorities, including the local government.

Photo: Prakash Chandra Timilsina/ Nepal Photo Library.