Prolonged Dry Spell and Extreme Heat Raise Alarm Among Farmers in West Nawalparasi

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Prolonged Dry Spell and Extreme Heat Raise Alarm Among Farmers in West Nawalparasi

Prolonged Dry Spell and Extreme Heat Raise Alarm Among Farmers in West Nawalparasi

Ecosphere News Service 2026-06-24 14:37:00

West Nawalparasi, Nepal: Farmers across Bardaghat-Susta West Nawalparasi are facing growing anxiety as a prolonged dry spell and intense heat have begun to threaten paddy cultivation and water security in the district. With no significant rainfall recorded for more than two weeks, rice seedlings planted in recently transplanted fields are drying up, while drinking water sources are also showing signs of depletion.
Local farmers report that cracks have appeared across paddy fields as soil moisture levels continue to decline. The worsening conditions have forced many farmers to suspend rice transplantation activities, fearing further losses if rainfall does not arrive soon.
Dinanath Yadav, a farmer from Palhinandan Rural Municipality–6, said that transplanted rice seedlings have started withering due to the lack of water. He noted that deep bore wells and hand pumps, which farmers rely on for irrigation during dry periods, are also beginning to dry up, creating additional challenges for both agriculture and household water use.
The water crisis has become increasingly severe in several settlements. According to Dayashankar Tripathi, Ward Chairperson of Palhinandan–5, communities located south of the Gandak Canal still receive limited water from hand pumps for basic domestic purposes. However, many other villages are facing acute shortages of drinking water. Residents have reportedly been compelled to collect funds locally to operate motor pumps connected to deep bore wells installed by the drinking water authority.
Agricultural officials have also expressed concern over the situation. Shiv Prasad Aryal, Chief of the Agriculture Knowledge Center, Nawalparasi, stated that farmers who had enthusiastically transplanted rice following favorable weather conditions earlier in the season are now worried as the young plants begin to dry out. According to the center, approximately 40 percent of paddy transplantation has been completed across the district so far, but the continuing absence of rainfall threatens both crop establishment and future production.
The crisis comes at a critical period for Nepal’s rice-growing season, as paddy cultivation depends heavily on timely monsoon rainfall. Farmers and local residents alike are now eagerly awaiting the advance of the monsoon into western Nepal. They hope that rainfall in the coming days will ease the extreme heat, replenish drinking water supplies, support irrigation needs, and help save vulnerable rice crops.
If dry conditions persist, agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods in the district could face significant setbacks, underscoring the increasing vulnerability of farming communities to climate variability and water scarcity.

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