Farmers Begin Paddy Plantation in West Nawalparasi After Gandak Canal Gets Water

Farmers in West Nawalparasi have started paddy plantation after water became available in the Gandak canal. Farmers from Ramgram Municipality, Sarawal Rural Municipality and Palhinandan Rural Municipality are now busy planting paddy in their fields. According to farmer Ramsingh Kurmi of Palhinandan-4, farmers could not wait any longer despite the shortage of chemical fertilizer after water arrived in the canal. He said some farmers have started plantation even though the seedlings are still short. Since many farmers depend on canal water for paddy farming, they began planting as soon as water arrived on time this year.

Farmers say they are still facing a shortage of fertilizer and labor during the plantation season. Some farmers have started planting with family members because hired workers are not available. Farmer Tribhuvan Kurmi said he began planting even with short seedlings after seeing nearby farmers start plantation, fearing that the tractor route to his field could be blocked later. At present, many fields near the northern side of the West Gandak canal and in several southern areas are being planted. West Gandak Canal chief Tilakram Budhathoki said that after water was released into the canal this year, it reached the full 32-kilometer stretch within 36 hours, allowing farmers to benefit from canal water for paddy plantation.