Monsoon Miracle: Heavy Rains Revive Drought-Stricken Madhes Province in Nepal
Heavy rains ease drought, revive farming in Nepal’s Madhes Province.
After a prolonged dry spell that crippled agriculture in Nepal’s Madhes Province, moderate to heavy rainfall over the past 24 hours has brought much-needed relief to farmers and revitalized hopes for the region’s rice production. Seven of the eight districts in the southern Terai plains recorded significant rainfall, alleviating drought conditions that had disrupted paddy cultivation, according to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM).
The heaviest showers were reported in Dhanusha and Mahottari districts, with Tulsi Centre in Dhanusha recording 63.8 mm and Hardinath logging 51 mm of rainfall in the 24 hours ending at 9:00 AM local time on Saturday. Other notable measurements included 46.4 mm in Amlekhgunj (Bara), 44.6 mm in Gaur (Rautahat), 37.6 mm in Molgaun (Sarlahi), 32.4 mm in Gaurigaun (Mahottari), and 25.8 mm in Parwanipur (Sarlahi). Parsa district, however, remained dry, according to DHM spokesperson Bibhuti Pokharel.
The rainfall has enabled farmers to resume paddy transplantation, which had stalled at just 35% completion due to the drought. Madhes Province, a critical agricultural hub accounting for over 16% of Nepal’s rice production, had been declared a disaster-affected zone on July 23 due to severe water shortages and prolonged dry conditions. From June 1 to July 16, rainfall in parts of the Terai was up to 50% below the long-term average, severely impacting agriculture and drinking water supplies.
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The recent showers mark a turning point for the region, which had been grappling with crisis-level drought conditions. The Nepal government’s earlier declaration of Madhes as a disaster-affected zone underscored the urgency of the situation, with thousands of farmers facing significant losses. The timely rains have now sparked optimism, allowing agricultural activities to resume and offering hope for a recovery in the region’s vital rice production sector.
