October 17: The untimely rainfall has disappointed farmers in Kailali district. The rainfall which occurred since Monday afternoon upset farmers as they were about to harvest rice.    
They are worried how they would harvest rice safely amidst such erratic weather.    
A farmer from Tikapur, Nirmal BK, said the paddy they harvested and spread to dry in the field has become wet due to the ill-timed rainfall.

"I waited for a tractor to collect the crop, but it did not come. The rainfall drenched the rice. The storm has further strewn it. If the rainfall continues, the crop will perish in the field," he shared his plight.    
Similarly, another farmer Padam Oli shared that paddy is ripe in the field. He did not harvest the paddy, worrying about storms on Monday, but the rains coupled with storm damaged the ripe paddy.

"If the rainfall does not stop, it certainly damages the crop," he said, wondering, "Why does rainfall occur when it is time to harvest rice?"    
Most of the farmers in Kailali district are upset, reasoning rainfall occurs when they are ready to harvest rice. They experienced it for three years. It has resulted in loss of production.    
"In 2078 BS, the floods triggered by the rainfall swept away the harvest time rice. Last year, we were able to save half of the crops," said Hari Chaudhary, adding, "We have not harvested rice due to erratic weather. The storm coupled with rainfall has damaged half the yield this year too. The adverse weather is a bane for farmers.”    
Another farmer Parbati Chaudhari said that the paddy harvested and spread to dry in the field was damaged due to the sudden change in weather. “Only half of the crop remained,” she added.    
Meanwhile, Tikapur Municipality and Janaki Rural Municipality have suggested the farmers to wait for some days to harvest rice. -- RSS