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Agricultural industry

Madhesh Province Faces Crisis Amidst Prolonged Drought, Rainfall Brings Relief to Farmers

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The Madhesh Province in Nepal has been declared a crisis-ridden zone due to a severe drought that has disrupted daily life and led to a significant shortage of water for both drinking and agricultural purposes. However, recent light to moderate rainfall across the country has brought much-needed relief to farmers, who were anxiously waiting to begin plantation. The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has stated that around 50% of rice farming in Nepal depends on monsoon rainfall, and the current drought is expected to significantly reduce rice production this year.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Madhesh Province in Nepal has been declared a crisis-ridden zone due to a prolonged drought that has severely disrupted daily life and led to a significant shortage of water for both drinking and agricultural purposes.
  • Recent light to moderate rainfall across the country has brought much-needed relief to farmers, who were anxiously waiting to begin plantation.
  • The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has stated that around 50% of rice farming in Nepal depends on monsoon rainfall.
  • The current drought, especially severe in the eight districts of the Terai/Madhesh, is expected to significantly reduce rice production this year.
  • Director General of the Department of Agriculture, Prakash Kumar Sanjel, has stated that the Department is mulling alternative crop production if the adverse conditions for paddy transplantation continue beyond mid-August.
  • The Department is planning to repair canal systems, shallow tube-wells, and deep boring systems to expand irrigation access for rice transplantation.
  • The agriculture sector contributes 24.1% to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employs 50.4% of the population.
  • Madhes Province alone accounts for 16.25% of the country's total paddy fields, with 542,580 hectares of arable land, of which 502,244 hectares are used for rice cultivation.

Statistics:

  • 50% of rice farming in Nepal depends on monsoon rainfall (Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development).
  • 16.25% of the country's total paddy fields are located in the Madhes Province (Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development).
  • 542,580 hectares of arable land are available in the Madhes Province (Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development).
  • 502,244 hectares of arable land are used for rice cultivation in the Madhes Province (Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development).
  • 24.1% of the country's GDP comes from the agriculture sector (Fresh Agricultural and Livestock Diary).
  • 50.4% of the population is employed in the agriculture sector (Fresh Agricultural and Livestock Diary).

Sources:

  • Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development
  • Fresh Agricultural and Livestock Diary

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