“The peasants are beginning to feel the effect of drought. So they are quite worried,” said Dambar Singh Nepali, officer at the regional directorate of agriculture. [break]
According to Nepali, only eight percent of the area has been cultivated. “The farmers fear they will not have a good harvest if there is no rainfall any time soon,” he said.
Similarly, Kishorman Shrestha, chief at the district agricultural office, Banke said very few farmers in the district have sowed seeds for paddy plantation. “It seems they are not going to celebrate Asar 15 (paddy day- dhan diwas) this time around. How can they celebrate when the fields are barren,” he added.
According to him, food production is likely to get affected as maize seeds in the district have been sown only in 600 hectares as compared to 2,051 hectares last year.
Our correspondent Sherbahadur KC from Butwal said vegetable prices in the region have gone up by as much as 40 percent.
Similarly, maize plantation in Dang has been visibly affected. “Maize production in the district is going to very low this year,” said Pawan Giri, an agricultural officer.
Likewise, peasants in Rukum, Pyuthan, Jajarkot and Rolpa districts are also hard hit due to delayed monsoon.
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