Kathmandu, 31 Oct: The impact of the Montha cyclone has been felt across the country. The lives of people in the Himalayan, hilly, and Terai/Madhesh regions have all been affected.
The fields of Madhesh, considered Nepal’s grain store, are currently glowing yellow with ripe paddy, like gold. However, farmers are worried as the paddy stalks, which were just right for harvesting, have been flattened by the fury of the Montha cyclone. Farmers in Baragadhi Rural Municipality of Bara district are in distress as the powerful cyclone originating in the Bay of Bengal hit just as they were about to start harvesting the paddy.
Paddy Crops Stranded in the Fields
With rainfall accompanied by strong winds covering Madhesh Province since Wednesday, farmers’ paddy has been left stranded in the fields. According to Ashokkumar Jaiswal, the chairperson of the rural municipality, Bara district is considered a major producer of important food grains like paddy, wheat, and maize in Madhesh. Among them, Baragadhi Rural Municipality is considered the top-producing village in the district.
He said, “Most farmers’ paddy, which was ready to be cut and brought in, is now stranded in the fields. Some haven’t been able to bring in the paddy they had already cut and bundled.” Not only that, farmers were preparing to bring in the paddy and then plant winter maize in the same field within a day or two. That plan of the farmers has also been disrupted. He informed that even without heavy rain, the ongoing rainfall with strong winds has knocked down the paddy of many farmers in the fields, causing damage. However, the rain has provided relief for the vegetables planted on a small scale in the dry areas. The Montha’s rain has deeply affected the harvesting schedule of paddy for most farmers in Madhesh Province, just like in this rural municipality. Jaiswal shares that many farmers are praying that there won’t be heavy rain and that the ripe paddy doesn’t get submerged.
It’s not just in Madhesh; farmers in hilly districts were also ready to plant winter potatoes and vegetables after bringing in the paddy. The recent unseasonal rain and the current impact of Mountha have left the grain crops stranded in the fields.
In the hilly district of Parbat in Gandaki Province, paddy that farmers had cut and prepared for harvesting is now soaked in the fields. The rural municipality office has expressed concern, stating that the continuous rain since Wednesday night has submerged the paddy sheaves, causing damage. The municipality has deployed staff since Thursday to collect details of the damaged crops and, while consoling the farmers, is assessing the damage and has assured them of providing relief.
Meanwhile, in the Himalayan region, the cycle of continuous rain and snowfall has been ongoing for the past few days. The Himalayan potatoes and buckwheat harvested for sale are stuck in farmers’ homes as air travel has been halted. Mingmachhiri Sherpa, chairperson of Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality, said, “It has been snowing since Aswin, and it’s raining in the lower areas. Potatoes and other crops have been harvested from the fields, but there seems to be a problem in selling them.”
In Mustang, apples have been picked and sent to the market. Farmers have already brought in food crops like potatoes, buckwheat, and barley. Chhumi Bista Gurung, vice-chairperson of Lomanthang Rural Municipality, informed that continuous snowfall has caused problems for farmers to reach the market and their homes. She said, “The buckwheat, wheat, and barley have been harvested, potatoes have also been dug up. Now it will get cold in winter, nothing else is planted. We haven’t been able to send the potatoes to the market.” She added that since farming in the Himalayas is now dependent on tourists, they are hoping for clear weather.
As farmers are likely to be severely affected by the Montha cyclone along with unseasonal rain and snowfall, the Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) has requested everyone to remain alert. NARC has advised harvesting only after the weather clears. It has also called upon local municipalities to coordinate in providing safe storage places, even in areas where harvesting has been done. Agricultural Meteorologist Rameshwar Rimal has suggested farmers secure the harvested paddy. It has been suggested to cover the paddy still in the fields with tarps to save it.
Relief for Winter Vegetables
However, this weather system will provide relief for winter vegetable crops. This rain will be like nectar for the winter vegetable crops planted in dry areas. This rain will also provide relief for the newly planted potato and other vegetable saplings. According to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, the Mountha cyclone has become more powerful as the strength of two other smaller cyclones has merged with it, increasing the likelihood of heavy rain and snowfall in some parts of Nepal. Therefore, the impact of Mountha, which was active until Thursday in Gandaki Province, has now spread as far as Sudurpashchim Province. Meteorologist Binu Maharjan informed that continuous rain will persist in most parts of the country on Friday due to the effect of the Mountha cyclone. From Saturday afternoon, the weather will gradually start improving.
Transportation Halted
Due to the increased risk of floods and landslides from continuous rain, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority has requested not to operate long-distance vehicles for three days from Thursday.
As continuous rain continues due to the effect of the Montha cyclone, and floods and landslides have started creating obstructions on roads in various parts of the country, the Authority has requested not to operate long-distance vehicles from Kartik 13 to Kartik 15. Accordingly, various District Administration Offices have halted transportation after assessing the situation in their areas. Sindhuli and Kavrepalanchok District Administration Offices have issued notices halting vehicular movement. In Nawalparasi, a decision has been made to operate vehicles alternately.
