Unseasonal Rainfall Damages Paddy Harvest in Tarai, Raising Concerns for Farmers and Economy

Unseasonal rainfall in the Tarai region has damaged paddy crops that were ready for harvest, putting farmers and the agriculture-dependent economy under strain.

Bikram Tharu, a farmer in Bardiya had recently harvested paddy planted on two bighas of land in Geruwa Rural Municipality. He was caught off guard by the rainfall which began on Wednesday evening. The harvested grains were soaked in the fields due to the continuous light rainfall.

“The rain was not very heavy, but it did not stop. The harvested paddy is now soaked in the field. We can neither dry it nor store it safely,” Tharu said. “Since the rainfall is expected to continue until Saturday, I’m worried the grains might sprout in the mud.”

Tharu’s concern reflects the plight of many farmers across the Tarai—the country’s main grain-producing belt—who are struggling to protect their harvests.

Uddhav Adhikari, coordinator of the Campaign for Food Security, said farmers in the Tarai are facing difficulties collecting paddy due to the ongoing unseasonal rains. Those who had already harvested and left the paddy in the fields are the most affected, he added.

According to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, rainfall caused by a low-pressure system over the Arabian Sea and Cyclone Montha in the Bay of Bengal is expected to continue until Saturday. The Department has advised farmers to monitor weather conditions before harvesting paddy.

Meteorologist Meen Kumar Aryal said the possibility of rain is higher in the Tarai than in the hills, which could significantly affect the paddy harvest.

Data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development show that Nepal produced 5.96 million metric tons of paddy last year — a 4.04 percent increase compared to the previous year. Paddy contributes the most to Nepal’s agricultural GDP, which accounted for 25.15 percent of the total economy in the last fiscal year, according to the National Statistics Office.

Experts warn that the current rainfall could reduce both the quality and quantity of the harvest. Senior agricultural economist Tilakraj Chaulagain said while standing paddy may not be severely affected, the harvested grains lying in the fields are at risk of rotting, sprouting, or breaking during milling, leading to lower-quality rice and higher volumes of broken grains.

Although the Ministry of Agriculture has not yet estimated the extent of the damage, officials said the unseasonal rain has already affected farmers in several Tarai and hill districts who were preparing harvest their crops.

Meanwhile, the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has forecast cloudy skies and rainfall across the country over the next few days, with snowfall likely in high mountain areas.

Weather forecast

Friday (October 31): Widespread rainfall is expected in Koshi, Madhes, and Bagmati provinces, with moderate rain likely in hill and mountainous areas of Gandaki and Lumbini provinces. Light rain may occur in some parts of Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces, with moderate to heavy snowfall possible in high mountain regions.

Saturday (November 1): Partly to generally cloudy conditions are expected nationwide, with moderate rain likely in Koshi and light rain in the hill regions of Bagmati and Gandaki provinces. Light snowfall may occur in some high mountain areas.