Farmers in Mugu and Humla worried due to lack of rain; crops have started to wither

By Binod Kumar Malla, MUGU:- Farmers in the remote settlements of Mugu and Humla are facing a severe crisis due to the lack of timely rainfall. With insufficient rain even after the first week of Shrawan has passed, crops in the fields have begun to wither, and some areas are experiencing an acute shortage of drinking water.

In Bhii village of Soru Rural Municipality-3 (Mugu) and Kalkya in Adanchuli Rural Municipality-1 (Humla), indigenous crops such as proso millet (*chino*), foxtail millet (*kauni*), finger millet (*kodo*), and horse gram (*gahat*) have withered in the fields due to a prolonged drought. Farmers in these areas—where agriculture relies entirely on rainfall—are increasingly worried that the lack of timely rain will deepen the food crisis this year.

Dal Bahadur Karki, a 71-year-old farmer from Bhi village, says, “The month of Saun has already begun, yet there is no sign of rain. Crops like proso millet, foxtail millet, finger millet, and horse gram planted in the fields are all withering away. With the crops destroyed, there are no alternative employment options here either. We are currently scraping by on rice bought on credit from the local merchant, and the burden of debt is mounting day by day.”

Padme Kumal, a 75-year-old farmer from the same village, faces similar hardship. “Let alone vegetables and greens, we are now forced to get by eating plain white rice with just salted water. The lack of water has made not only farming but our entire lives miserable,” he lamented.

Bhi village comprises eight settlements with a total of more than 380 households. Located about a two-day walk from the district headquarters, Gamgadhi, this remote village borders Humla and Bajura. Locals report that this geographically challenging area is currently facing a severe shortage of not only crops but also drinking water.

Currently, the situation is such that even common vegetables like chili peppers require irrigation using water carried from taps to keep them alive. Prolonged drought is causing traditional water sources to dry up, while a lack of water and pasture has led to the death of many livestock. According to locals, the arid nature of the land means that plants and crops cannot survive without rainfall.

The lack of timely rainfall has created a grim situation in the remote settlements of Mugu and Humla, characterized by food shortages, a crisis in livestock farming, and immense hardship for the local population. Affected residents have urged the government to make immediate arrangements for drinking water and relief supplies, and to introduce long-term plans for irrigation and water resource development.