Farmers in Jumla are worried as the paddy crop they are about to bring home has been soaked due to the rain that has been falling since Monday night. The farmers had harvested the paddy and dried it in the fields. The rain soaked the paddy.

Farmers from Chandannath, Hima and Tatopani in the district had started importing paddy.

According to the data of the District Agricultural Development Office, Jumla, farmers from 5 municipalities out of a total of 8 local levels had already imported their paddy. Farmers from Kanakasundari, Sinja, Tila, Guthichaur and Patarasi have already imported paddy, informed Ram Bhakta Adhikari, Chief of the Agricultural Development Office, Jumla. However, farmers from some wards of Tatopani, Hima Rural Municipality and Chandannath Municipality had not yet imported paddy. The Agriculture Office has informed that 20 percent of the paddy planted on a total of 2,890 hectares has been soaked.

Farmers from Gairagaun, Pipalgaun and Jatibhid in Chandannath Municipality are yet to import paddy. Farmers here have already harvested the paddy to import. They have to chop it and bring it home.

Farmers from Ranka, Bairanka, Lachu Jiula and Dangibara Jiula in Tatopani Rural Municipality have not been able to import paddy. Farmers in Dayargaun and Mofla of Hima Rural Municipality have already harvested their paddy. Farmers in Talikudu and Mathi Kudugaun have not harvested their paddy. Farmers are worried as the paddy they harvested in the fields to take home has become wet. 'It cannot be said that the paddy is damaged if it gets wet,' said the chief official. 'If the rain stops and the sun shines, it will not have much effect. But if it continues to rain for two to four days, there is a possibility of more rice rotting. If the rain does not stop for even a week, the problem of rice grains, ears and stalks rotting in the field and being wasted and sprouting begins to appear.'

The agriculture office had been coordinating with the agriculture branches of each local level since morning to understand the condition of the paddy crop. Some farmers have covered the harvested paddy with tents. 'Some have taken it home with the stalks,' said the chief official. 'Some farmers have made a row in the field. The same rice is continuously getting wet.'

The Agricultural Development Office has stated that 80 percent of the district's rice has already been imported. In Jumla, Kalimarsi, Lekali 1 and Lekali 3, Chandannath 1 and Chandannath 3 varieties of rice are being planted.

Farmers are worried that the rice may fall in the fields and become useless due to the continuous rain. Local Jaya Bahadur Rokaya said that although the rice is growing well this time, the rain is causing problems in bringing it home.