Until just 10 days ago, Shambhu Prasad Yadav of Sakhuwaprasauni Rural municipality-2 in Parsa district was uncertain whether he would be able to complete paddy transplantation this season, as a prolonged dry spell had gripped the Madhesh Province.    

However, the rainfall which is almost regular over the past week has brought much-needed relief to farmers across the province.    

Prior to the rains, farmers were relying heavily on deep tube wells for irrigation, a costly and challenging alternative, particularly in areas with unreliable electricity supply.    

According to Pradeep Kumar Yadav, Senior Crop Development Officer at the Madhesh Province Agricultural Development Directorate, paddy transplantation activities have gained momentum since the rainfall began. As of Srawan 16 (August 1), some 57.27 percent of the total 372,645 hectares allocated for paddy cultivation had been transplanted. Over the past week, it increased by 19.27 percent.    

By August 8, the area under paddy cultivation in the eight districts of Madhesh Province had reached 76.54 percent or 285,234 hectares.    

Among the districts, Bara reports the highest progress with 95 percent of its paddy fields transplanted, followed by Parsa at 92 percent, Rautahat at 85 percent, Sarlahi at 75 percent, Dhanusha, Saptari and Siraha each at 70 percent and Mahottari at 61.5 percent.    

Chief of the Agricultural Knowledge Centre, Bara, Raj Narayan Prasad Shah, said that the recent rains have brought immense relief to farmers. “Many fields had developed fissures due to prolonged dryness, and the rains have not only irrigated the land but also brought relief and joy to farmers." (RSS)