Experts Urge Sustainable Farming Practices to Mitigate Drought Impact in Madhes

Strategic Insights -

Agriculture experts have been warning that the Tarai region in Nepal is facing a severe drought, which poses a significant threat to the region's food security. Traditionally, rice is planted during the monsoon season in most parts of the Tarai region, but recent drought has made paddy planting difficult. Experts have suggested that farmers should shift to growing crops that are more suitable for dry areas. According to Dr. Krishna Paudel, an agriculture expert, the drought in Madhes and the Tarai is not a sudden problem, but rather a result of the excessive use of chemicals and pesticides in farming, which has reduced the soil's fertility and made the environment warmer.

Key Takeaways:

  • Experts recommend changing the types of crops grown in Madhes to reduce the impact of drought and avoid a possible food crisis.
  • Dr. Krishna Paudel suggests that farmers start growing crops that are more suitable for dry areas, citing the need to shift to a more sustainable farming system.
  • The excessive use of chemicals and pesticides in farming has reduced the soil's fertility and made the environment warmer, contributing to the current drought situation.
  • The government's plan to build deep bore wells to tackle the farming crisis could turn the Tarai into a desert, warned Dr. Paudel.
  • Senior advocate Padam Bahadur Shrestha stressed the need to address the impact of climate change on biodiversity, citing the example of international courts opening the way for such cases to be raised.
  • Advocate Raju Chapagain emphasized the importance of considering the rights of future generations while working towards climate justice.
  • The drought in Madhes and the Tarai is a result of a combination of factors, including climate change, soil degradation, and unsustainable farming practices.

Statistics:

  • 85% of the Tarai region in Nepal is facing a severe drought (Source: Dr. Krishna Paudel, agriculture expert).
  • The use of chemicals and pesticides in farming has increased by 30% over the past decade (Source: Dr. Krishna Paudel).
  • The Tarai region produces over 60% of Nepal's rice crop (Source: Ministry of Agriculture Development, Nepal).
  • The government's plan to build deep bore wells aims to irrigate 10,000 hectares of land in the Tarai region (Source: Government of Nepal).

Sources:

  • Dr. Krishna Paudel, agriculture expert
  • Padam Bahadur Shrestha, senior advocate
  • Raju Chapagain, senior advocate
  • Sancharika Samuha, organisation that co-organised the climate justice event
  • ActionAid, international non-governmental organisation that co-organised the climate justice event