Mahottari: Farmers in Mahottari district are facing growing concerns as prolonged drought conditions have severely disrupted paddy plantation this year. With only about 25% of planting completed by the third week of July, agricultural productivity in the region is under serious threat.

According to Debananda Raya Yadav, Chief of the District Agriculture Knowledge Centre, paddy cultivation in Mahottari typically covers around 40,000 hectares of land out of the total 71,570 hectares of arable land. However, this year’s progress has fallen significantly short compared to last year, when over 42,000 hectares were successfully planted.

Yadav noted that only a quarter of the plantation has been carried out using alternative water sources like diesel pumps, rivers, wells, shallow tube wells, and other available means—highlighting the dire need for adequate rainfall.

“The current situation is worrisome,” said Yadav. “If the dry spell continues for another week, there’s a real risk that the transplanted paddy saplings will begin to wither.”

The impact of the drought is uneven across the district. While Sonma Rural Municipality has managed to complete around 40% of its paddy planting, Manrashiswa Municipality has seen only 10% progress so far.

As the Tarai region experiences a significant rainfall deficit, Mahottari’s farmers are left anxiously awaiting relief from the skies. Without timely rainfall, both their livelihoods and regional food security may be at stake.

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