Although the heavy rainfall in recent weeks has created favorable conditions for rice cultivation, agricultural officials and experts advise farmers to remain cautious as the harvest period is still ahead. While adequate water is essential for the growth and development of rice crops, excessive rainfall, floods, and waterlogging can cause damage. Farmers are urged to stay vigilant about future weather conditions.
In the past few weeks, various regions across Nepal have experienced heavy to very heavy rainfall. According to Rajendra Koirala, spokesperson of the Department of Agriculture, this has raised water levels in rivers and streams nationwide. Floods and landslides have impacted farmland along riverbanks, particularly those adjacent to rivers and streams, where fields have been eroded, crops submerged, and sand and gravel deposits have accumulated in the fields. “However, overall the rainfall has not had a detrimental effect on cultivation or potential production; rather, it has facilitated farming,” he stated.
Currently, rice cultivation is underway in irrigated areas of the Terai and hills, while millet is being grown in upper regions lacking irrigation. “In many locations, transplanting was completed from late Ashad to mid Shrawan. This period marks the first flowering and grain-filling stages of rice varieties, both of which require adequate water,” Koirala explained. Additionally, various particles in the atmosphere brought down by the rains act like natural fertilizer, benefiting the crops.
The recent rains have improved rice crops in upper dry areas. Regions with good drainage in the lower plains have not experienced adverse effects from the rainfall,” he added. Nationwide, approximately 1.35 million hectares are under rice cultivation, with a majority in the Terai region. Registrar Shribhagwan Thakur from Madhesh Agricultural University also noted the recent rains positively impacted rice production in the Terai. “Farmers were initially concerned about continuous rainfall damaging their crops, but this rain has actually supported the growth and development of rice crops,” Thakur said.
