With draught affecting the entire Karnali region, wheat production in Jajarkot dropped two-thirds from last year’s output.

The production this year stood at 10,000 tonnes against last year’s 29,000 tonnes. Wheat is cultivated on 13,000 hectares of land in the district.

Not only the wheat output, the production of gram, lentils, and fruits has also decreased. “We count not even recover our investment in seeds,” said Prakash Arshi, a farmer from Kuduka, Bherimalika.

The protracted drought also affected paddy seed germination. “As streams have dried up, it is impossible to germinate paddy seeds,” said another farmer Dilli Bahadur Singh from Jintala of Paink-1. “Neither there has been rainfall nor water is flowing in the streams. The farmland is likely to remain barren this year.”

Mukesh Ramjali, agriculture extension officer at District Agricultural Development Office, said the district is facing food insecurity due to the drought, especially in Shima, Pajaru, Rakta, Bhagwati, Garkhakot, Majkot, Suwanauli, Khagenkot, Ragda, Bhagwati, Thalaraikar and Jugathapachaur Village Development Committees. He said the output of winter crops has decreased 60-70 percent.

The district has 25,000 hectares of arable land. Due to the lack of irrigation facility, 8,000 hectares of land has remained barren. Winter crops are cultivated on 17,000 hectares of land.

Round-the-year irrigation is available only for 5,000 hectares, while the facility is partially available for 3,000 hectares.

“The 50 percent of the farmland where winter crops are cultivated is dependent on rainfall,” said Ramjali.