Drought grips Madhesh: Paddy cultivation stalls as water sources dry up

As the monsoon season nears its peak, Madhesh Province is grappling with an acute drought that has disrupted paddy farming and triggered a growing drinking water crisis. Despite the start of Asar — Nepal’s traditional rice planting month — fields across the region remain barren, and vital water sources are drying up.

Poor rainfall, failed irrigation, and stalling agriculture

Although the monsoon technically began weeks ago, rainfall in Madhesh has been irregular and insufficient. Combined with a lack of proper irrigation infrastructure, this has left thousands of hectares of farmland uncultivated. Even where planting began early, the rice seedlings are now withering due to prolonged dryness.

According to the Directorate of Agriculture Development, only 33.78% of paddy fields in Madhesh have been planted so far. The province typically cultivates 372,645 hectares of paddy, but as of now, only 125,888 hectares have been planted.

District-wise data shows wide disparities in plantation progress:

• Parsa: 73.34%
• Rautahat: 45%
• Bara & Sarlahi: 40% each
• Siraha: 29%
• Dhanusha: 25%
• Mahottari: 18%
• Saptari: 16%

Many planted fields are showing signs of stress, with cracks forming in the soil and seedlings beginning to dry up.

Growing drinking water shortage

The effects of the drought extend beyond agriculture. Groundwater sources such as wells, tube wells, and borings are drying up in many areas, particularly in the central and eastern districts of the province. This has led to long queues for drinking water in rural settlements, and some communities now rely entirely on neighbors’ borings or government-supplied water.

Urban and peri-urban settlements that once received piped water from deep borings are also experiencing disruptions, with reduced supply and low pressure. The crisis is especially severe in districts like Parsa, Bara, Rautahat, Siraha, Dhanusha, and Mahottari.

Electrification gap blocks irrigation potential

While some areas have access to borewells and water pumps, the lack of rural electrification has made it impossible to use them effectively. This infrastructure gap remains one of the major barriers to climate-resilient agriculture in the region.

The provincial government had allocated NPR 480 million this fiscal year for agricultural electrification — crucial for powering irrigation systems — but the fund remains unused and frozen. Critics argue that the government continues to prioritize physical infrastructure like roads over essential agricultural investment.

Government declares drought emergency

Acknowledging the seriousness of the situation, the Madhesh Provincial Government has officially declared the entire province a drought-affected area. A cabinet meeting held on Thursday evening cited delayed monsoon rains, failed irrigation, and the widespread drying of planted fields as justification for the emergency declaration.

The province has appealed to the federal government to provide a special relief package for affected farmers and has requested support from development partners active in Nepal’s agriculture sector.

To address the immediate drinking water shortage, the provincial government has committed to mobilizing resources and coordinating with the Ministry of Water Supply to arrange for water tankers and other emergency supply systems in hard-hit areas.

Madhesh’s current crisis illustrates the vulnerabilities of agriculture in the face of climate change, erratic monsoons, and weak infrastructure. With paddy cultivation stalled and drinking water growing scarce, the province is heading toward a difficult harvest season and potentially a food security emergency.

Urgent action from both provincial and federal levels is needed — not only to provide immediate relief but also to invest in long-term solutions like irrigation systems, electrification, and water conservation technologies.

Without such interventions, droughts like this one may become the new normal, threatening both the economy and the livelihoods of millions in Nepal’s southern plains.