#Weather #Agriculture #Jumla #Hailstorm
In Jumla, a region in Nepal known for its concerns about the lack of rain, farmers were pleasantly surprised as they woke up on Friday morning to a combination of snowfall and rain. This year, instead of the usual hailstorms during the monsoon season, the region experienced light snowfall along with rainfall.
Mun Bahadur Adi, a local resident of Patrasi Rural Municipality-1, mentioned that after the hailstorm that occurred with the light snowfall, farmers are relieved to see water in the fields. The lack of irrigation facilities in many parts of the district has been a recurring issue, forcing farmers to rely solely on rainfall for their crops.
Last year, the crops suffered as there was no rain, causing them to wither. According to local sources, in about eight locations in the district, there is a significant lack of irrigation facilities at the local level. This leads farmers to wait for rainfall to sow crops like barley and wheat.
Durga Shahi, a local farmer from Hima Rural Municipality-6, emphasized that due to the ease of planting new seeds like paddy after the hailstorm, the reasons for hailstorms, such as easily planting new seeds like paddy, have become more straightforward.
Information Officer Deepak Singh Dhami from the Agriculture Development Office stated that due to the sudden arrival of snow and hail in the district, air services have been disrupted in areas like Karnali in Jumla. Additionally, public transportation services provided by Karnali Transportation have been severely affected, with long and short-distance vehicles facing difficulties in operation.
In the last 24 hours, the district received 33 millimeters of rainfall, as reported by the Hydrology Field Office. This unexpected weather phenomenon has brought relief to the farmers in Jumla, offering hope for a successful agricultural season.
Opinion from Ramesh Khatri, representative of Kansai Nepal News: “The unanticipated snowfall and rainfall in Jumla have come as a welcome surprise for the worried farmers. This unusual weather pattern could potentially have a positive impact on the agricultural sector, providing much-needed moisture for the crops. However, the challenges posed by the lack of irrigation facilities still remain a significant concern for the farming community in the region.”
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Author: MAYA | HARUTO
Posted at: March 1, 2025 7:01 pm
