Lack of irrigation behind minimal spring paddy

BARATHAWA, APRIL 29: Sarlahi district has 691 hectares of land suitable for cultivating spring paddy (Chaite Dhan), but only 50 hectares are actually used for this purpose annually. A severe lack of irrigation has rendered much of the land uncultivable during the spring season.

Although the Prime Minister's Agriculture Modernisation Project is in place to promote spring paddy farming, the cultivated area has seen no increase. Senior Agriculture Officer Rambalam Prasad Saha, head of the project, stated that while the district produces approximately 167,000 metric tons of rice annually from 45,950 hectares of summer paddy, spring paddy cultivation remains minimal.

Despite its fertile plains, Sarlahi has not seen farmer enthusiasm for Chaite Dhan. The project, launched nationally in 2073 B.S. and implemented in the district in fiscal year 2077 B.S., has targeted specific wards in Haripurwa Municipality and Parsa Rural Municipality to encourage cultivation.

Farmers have received agricultural tools, irrigation equipment, and training under the project. Still, spring paddy is not being cultivated even in designated "pocket areas." According to the Agriculture Knowledge Centre, only 50 hectares of land in Ishworpur, Lalbandi, Barahathawa, Haripurwa, Godaita, and Kabilashi are used for this crop.

Local farmers have cited acute water shortages as the primary obstacle. Ramadhar Raya, a farmer from Sirsiya in Kabilashi Municipality, said, “It’s the dry season. Spring paddy needs a regular water supply. Without irrigation facilities, we cannot grow the crop.”

Many farmers had previously used pumps and electric motors to extract groundwater, but these systems proved unsustainable.

Interestingly, agricultural officers note that spring paddy is less prone to disease and pests compared to summer paddy, making it a potentially advantageous crop—if only adequate irrigation were available.