RUPANDEHI: As were the previous years, the plight and worries the farmers are facing this year are the same- short supply of chemical fertilizers and seed, and adversity caused by the unseasonal rains.

The farmers inflicted with unseasonal rains saw the harvest time paddy drenched some weeks back and now worry over the cultivation of winter crops. The unavailability of chemical fertilizers and seeds have added further hassles to them as it is time to sow wheat after paddy harvest.

However, some are still harvesting the paddy planted in the late summer.

Sumer Yadav from Marchwar rural municipality-2 of Rupandehi is now engaged in preparing fields for wheat and legumes. But, he is in distress, as he has not been able to receive adequate fertilizer and seeds. “Government is unable to provide agricultural inputs as it time for winter cultivation. So, we have no option but to depend on neighbouring country, India, to import the chemical fertilizer,” he said, adding that sometime they even brave the hostility meted out by border security.

Yadav wonders why they were facing such trouble. “Is it all because of their agriculture profession?”

Dinesh Lodh from Kotahimai rural municipality-7 shares similar problems. It is his routine to run towards a cooperative and stand in line early in the morning for chemical fertilizers. If he is returned empty-handed, he has to go for Indian market for the purchase.

“If we fail to secure standing in the line at the cooperative gate early in the morning, there is less chance we get the agricultural supply,” he said, adding that agriculture is impossible without fertilizer.

However, Sahul Harijan from Sammarimai rural municipality-7 has different story that he is facing a challenge to manage the paddy as the unseasonal rains drenched it recently.

Most of the paddy crops were destroyed also because there was no proper drain system for water outlet. The plants left from getting drenched in the waterlogged field are being collected for the rice, he shared.

“When do we get freedom from worries,” he wondered.