Paddy fields in Tarai suffer from drought

AROUND 47,000 hectares of paddy fields have been abandoned this year, largely due to dry spells and a shortage of manpower in five Tarai districts. According to the Ministry of Agriculture Development statistics, transplantation has been completed at only 97 percent of the total paddy field capacity. Ministry statistics show that of the 1.531 million hectares of available paddy fields, transplantation was done on 1.484 million hectares as of August-end. Transplantation in five Tarai districts-Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Saptari and Siraha-remained below 90 percent this year. Last year, due to a severe drought, transplantation on only 94 percent of the fields was done. “Although, the entire country recorded torrential monsoon rains, a few districts in the eastern and central Tarai belt received no rainfall since July 30,” said Hem Raj Regmi, under-secretary at the ministry. “As a result, farmers were not able to plant crops on their fields.” According to statistics, the most affected district is Dhanusha with 16,250 hectares of paddy fields lying barren out of 65,000 hectares. Meanwhile, 8,540 hectares, 7,200 hectares, 6,955 hectares and 6,690 hectares have been abandoned in Siraha, Saptari, Mahottari and Sarlahi districts respectively due to insufficient rainfall. The ministry officials said paddy fields in these districts are parched, and 30-40 percent of the paddy planted on the fields is at risk of drying up due to lack of adequate water. As per the traditional schedule of paddy cultivation, transplantation is to be completed before August 15; however, it spills over to the end of August in a number of Tarai districts, where farmers harvest a third crop, like maize, in some areas. Regmi, who was among the visiting members to these affected districts, said that the dry spell was not the sole reason for farmers abandoning the land. “These districts have been suffering an acute shortage of manpower.” According to a government figure, 61,841 people went abroad from these five districts in 2012-among whom 98 percent were male migrants. The shortage of manpower has adverse effects on the cost of production for farmers. The Department of Agriculture research on cost of production and marketing margin of crops 2011-12 shows that the cost of paddy production per quintal is Rs 998.17 in Dhanusha. On an average, the cost of paddy production per hectare amounts to Rs 42,159 while a farmer’s gross income per hectare stands at Rs 61,835. This means, farmers make Rs 19,675 as a gross profit at farm gate prices. Although farm lands have shrunk significantly, government officials estimate that paddy output will not be affected as there are encouraging signs for good paddy harvest this season with plenty of rainfall and an improved variety of seeds in other parts of the district. Last year, droughts in many parts of the country caused a significant decline in paddy production, and its impact was visible in the country’s slowed economic growth. May proved to be an extraordinary month in terms of rainfall this year for rain-fed Nepali agriculture, with recorded levels of rainfall exceeding the normal. The ministry’s statistics show that May received 275 mm of rainfall, a 123.6 percent rise over the normal figure. Likewise, rainfall in June and July amounted to 295 mm and 440 mm respectively, which is 25 percent and 21 percent higher than normal. According to Agriculture Ministry, the most affected district is Dhanusha with 16,250 hectares of paddy fields lying barren out of 65,000 hectares