Ajyaa Khabar,

Saptari

“It’s been months since we started preparing the fields just by watching the sky, but there’s no sign of rain,” laments Ram Sagar Yadav, a farmer from Tilathi Koiladi Rural Municipality in Saptari. As the Nepali month of Asar draws to a close, the dreams of thousands of farmers, along with their rice seedlings, are beginning to wither due to the absence of rainfall.

Saptari district is facing a severe rice plantation crisis, triggered by a prolonged lack of rain and an unreliable irrigation system. According to official statistics, only 32% of rice planting has been completed across the district as of the first week of Shrawan (mid-July). For Saptari—a district traditionally known for its strong rice cultivation—this is an alarming figure.

Irrigated South, Drought-Stricken North

Out of Saptari’s 18 local levels, the southern parts—Hanumannagar Kankalini, Tilathi Koiladi, Chhinnamasta, and Rajgadh rural municipalities—are relatively better off, thanks to irrigation from the Western Koshi Canal. According to Krishnadev Raut, chief of the Agriculture Knowledge Center in Saptari, these regions have achieved about 60% rice transplantation.

However, the situation is dire in the central and northern parts. Areas dependent on the Koshi Pump Canal have completed only 32% of planting, while the far north—where farmers rely on boring systems and motor pumps—has seen only about 15% plantation progress.

“Looking at the overall picture, only 32% of rice planting has been completed, which is extremely low,” said Chief Raut.

No Irrigation, No Relief

The prime rice planting season is during Asar and the early weeks of Shrawan. But with no rainfall, and reliance on monsoon rains, many farmers have been forced to abandon planting altogether as their fields dry out. Some who tried to irrigate using boring systems have watched helplessly as their sprouting seeds dried up in the heat.

Last year, Saptari produced 274,000 metric tons of rice. This year, a sharp decline in output seems inevitable. Of the total 81,000 hectares of arable land, approximately 68,000 hectares are usually planted with rice. The current rate of plantation points to a high probability of an impending food crisis.

Government Declarations But No Visible Action

Although the Madhesh Province government declared the region as drought-affected on Asar 26 (early July), farmers say they have seen no practical impact of the declaration. While drinking water has been distributed in some areas, there is no sign of any tangible relief packages or alternative irrigation plans for farmers.

Avadhesh Jha, press advisor to the Chief Minister, said, “The government is holding consultations with experts. If there’s no rainfall by Shrawan 15 (end of July), we’re preparing to coordinate with the federal government to introduce alternative crops and relief packages.”

Still, under the scorching sun and dry winds, farmers are left waiting in their fields. Their trust is waning. They believe that if plans remain confined to paper, they won’t be enough to avert the looming crisis.

Agricultural Economy Under Threat

Rice is not just a staple in Saptari—it is the backbone of the local economy. It ensures food self-sufficiency and sustains countless families. If rice production fails this year, it will severely impact the region’s agrarian lifestyle, local markets, and food security.

And this is not just about Saptari. Other districts across the Madhesh Province are facing similar challenges. The current monsoon failure threatens to push the entire region toward a state of food insecurity.