Paddy crop at the receiving end of changing weather pattern

Maharjan is worried to think about ‘possibility’ of adverse climate (dryness) after mid June. A period from mid June to mid July is considered as the suitable season for rice transplantation. There is a saying in Nepali – ‘mana ropera muthi falaune’ which translates as sowing a little quantity of rice (seeds) and harvesting much. So, the rice cultivation season is the busiest season for the Nepali farmers during which they ‘sow little quantity of rice in the hope of harvesting much’. Farmers rarely get a leisure time in this period if monsoon turns in their favour. Maharjan wishes that there is sufficient rain this season and he could finish rice transplantation on time (by the third week of June).
Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC)’s technician Atit Parajuli said impact of climate change has already started seen in paddy crops. In the recent years, climate started turning unfavourbale to farmers. They are bearing the brunt of untimely rains. Rainfed agriculture is largely practiced in Nepal due to lack of sufficient irrigation facilities and rains not on time will obviously affected the entire agricultural production. Pre and post-monsoon rains have been experienced in Nepal in the past few years which are not good for paddy cultivation. Unusual weather phenomenon has stolen the mood of farmers. Slight increase in temperature is needed for paddy crops when plant is in the course of bearing fruits. But delay in rice transplantation in absence of rains would affect this process.
“Only timely cultivation gives the positive results”, he added.
Risk of insects attacking rice plants is relatively high when the transplantation gets delayed. Only healthy rice plants can give high yield. Parajuli said several local varieties of paddy grown in Nepal have the capacity to resist climate change effects. The local varieties are gradually disappearing as farmers are inclined towards hybrid and improved varieties.
“Many local varieties would be fit for cultivation to the locality they had been grown traditionally, if not throughout the country,” he said, adding that the farmers have abandoned cultivating local varieties of paddy these days.
Hybrid varieties are the first choice for many farmers. He, however, said the hybrid varieties might not be suitable to the local climate and soil condition. “Farmers have shared to us that the seeds of the rice variety that gave a good yield in one year might not be good the next year,” Parajuli added. NARC has stated that they have been working since some years for developing seeds that are climatically suitable. Study and research is ongoing for developing seeds of varieties of paddy that can give high yield even in dry season. His suggestion to farmers is that as far as possible they cultivate the seeds of rice varieties that can withstand dry conditions.
The Janakpur-based Rice Research Programme Hardinath under NARC has recommended rice varieties suitable for cultivation in Tarai after carrying out research. The Rice Section under the Division of Rice Research has been carrying out study and research to develop suitable paddy varieties for cultivation in the hilly region of the country. Both these bodies have been recommending seeds of high-yield and disease-resistant rice varieties. Rice is the staple crop of Nepal. Nepalis consume rice in high quantity. Forthis reason also farmers celebrate the rice planting season as festival. There is a tradition of celebrating the 15th of the Nepali month Asar as the National Rice Day. Farmers celebrate the day by throwing mud at each other and eating yogurt and beaten rice. Similarly, the 15th of the Nepali month Saun is a special day on which farmers eat rice pudding. Rice farming is tied to people’s lifestyle and culture in Nepali society. Rice is cultivated from the Tarai region (the southern lowland belt) to the hilly region and some few places in the mountainous region.