KATHMANDU: The Madhes region of Nepal, a key agricultural and population center, is currently facing a severe drought crisis. Despite being the country’s main grain-producing area, large parts of Madhes have seen drastically reduced rainfall this year, causing massive delays in rice planting and widespread water shortages for drinking and irrigation.

Environmental degradation, climate change, and unplanned infrastructure development have worsened water scarcity by drying up rivers, underground sources, and natural springs. This drought threatens food security, livelihoods, and may trigger social and health problems.

This explainer will examine the causes, impacts, and potential solutions to the drought in Madhes.

What is the current situation of drought in the Madhes region of Nepal?

The Madhes region is facing a severe drought due to significantly delayed rainfall. As of today, many areas in Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusha, Mahottari, and other Terai districts have received minimal to no rainfall.

In Saptari, not a single drop of rain was recorded for over a month, while districts like Mahottari and Dhanusha saw only light showers, insufficient for agriculture. Locals have reported visible cracks in the soil and dry fields that should have been lush with transplanted paddy by this time.

According to farmers, the drought is worse than in previous years, including the 2023 dry spell. The local governments have acknowledged the situation but have taken limited action so far.

Farmers are increasingly anxious as the monsoon season window narrows and paddy transplantation becomes nearly impossible in many places. The prolonged drought threatens both food security and livelihoods in the region.

How has the drought affected paddy plantation in the Madhes region?

The drought has had a devastating impact on paddy transplantation in the Madhes. In several districts, paddy transplantation has been delayed or suspended entirely due to the lack of irrigation and rainfall.

 In Saptari, farmers say only about 20% of the targeted paddy fields have been transplanted. Fields remain dry, and cracks have appeared in soil that is usually submerged during the monsoon.

In Siraha, farmers are relying on underground boring water to transplant paddy, but even that is becoming scarce.

In Mahottari, many farmers have abandoned hope of paddy farming this season and are considering shifting to alternative crops. Paddy transplantation, which should have been completed by mid-July, is nowhere near expected progress.

The delay in paddy planting will not only reduce overall yield but also increase production costs for farmers, who must now rely on expensive diesel-powered irrigation. The drought has exposed the region’s heavy dependence on monsoon rainfall.

What is the status of rainfall and water sources in affected areas like Saptari, Siraha, and Mahottari?

Rainfall in Madhes districts like Saptari, Siraha, and Mahottari has been abnormally low this monsoon season. In Saptari, there is no rainfall from mid-June.

 Siraha received only a single day of light rain. In Mahottari, local streams and rivers have dried up, and farmers have had to rely on groundwater. However, with no recharge from rainfall, tube wells and shallow borings are drying up or offering insufficient water.

In villages like Bardibas and Manara Siswa Municipality of Mahottari, even underground pumps are running dry. Farmers are spending thousands of rupees on diesel just to operate irrigation pumps, yet crops still wilt in the fields.

The traditional reliance on rain-fed agriculture has made these areas extremely vulnerable. The water crisis is now affecting drinking water availability too, as wells dry up and hand pumps fail. The situation points to a deepening water scarcity problem in the Terai region.

How has the federal government responded to the drought crisis in Madhes, and what actions has Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli taken?

In response to severe drought conditions affecting all eight districts of Madhes Province, the federal government declared the entire region a disaster-affected area for three months, following a proposal by Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak.

This declaration was based on extensive water shortages that have severely impacted irrigation systems, agriculture, and drinking water supplies due to lack of rainfall and overexploitation of underground water sources.

Madhes Province itself had recommended this status to the federal government to enable urgent relief and resource mobilization.

On July 25, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli personally visited the drought-hit districts of Mahottari and Bara via helicopter inspection. During his visit, he met local farmers and officials to assess the situation firsthand.

Recognizing the urgent need for water, PM Oli announced the immediate installation of 500 deep tube wells (deep borings), each capable of irrigating up to 60 bighas of land, to provide swift relief and boost agricultural productivity.

What are the economic impacts of the drought on local farmers?

The drought has pushed farmers into severe economic distress. In Saptari, Mahottari, and Siraha, most smallholder farmers have already invested in preparing fields, purchasing seeds, and labor costs, expecting regular monsoon rains. However, with no rainfall, their investment is now at risk.

Many have spent between Rs 3,000 to Rs 10,000 on diesel to pump groundwater, only to see crops wither due to insufficient irrigation.

In Mahottari’s Sonama Rural Municipality, over 90% of paddy fields have not been planted, creating panic among the farming community. Some farmers are abandoning paddy cultivation and considering maize or millet, but even these require water.

 This shift will not yield comparable returns. Incomes are set to drop sharply, pushing already impoverished families deeper into debt.

Food shortages and higher market prices are expected. The cumulative loss for the agriculture sector in the region could run into billions of rupees if the drought continues into August.

How are farmers coping with the situation in the absence of rainfall?

Farmers are adopting desperate measures to cope with the ongoing drought. Many have turned to groundwater irrigation, using electric or diesel pumps to draw water from boring wells. In places like Dhanusha and Mahottari, some farmers are planting maize instead of paddy, which requires less water. However, this is not a viable solution for all.

In Mahottari, farmers in Manara Sishawa and Balwa municipalities are transporting water in tankers, costing over Rs 1,000 per trip, to irrigate small plots of land. Others have simply stopped cultivating altogether.

Community members report that even shared wells are running dry due to overuse. In Sonama, more than 90% of paddy land remains barren. The coping strategies are either too expensive or unsustainable, and there is no large-scale government relief yet.

With rising temperatures and no sign of rain, farmers are mentally and economically exhausted, fearing complete crop failure and financial ruin.

What is the role of government and local authorities during this crisis?

Government response has been minimal and mostly limited to observation and reporting. Local municipalities in districts like Saptari and Mahottari have acknowledged the problem but have not introduced any substantial relief programs.

Farmers complain that there is no emergency fund allocation, no subsidy on diesel for irrigation, and no crop insurance support.

 In Siraha, local authorities have issued notices about water scarcity but have failed to offer irrigation alternatives. There have been appeals from farmer groups for immediate diesel subsidies, free boring services, and compensation, but these remain unaddressed.

 The federal Ministry of Agriculture has issued a general advisory, but no targeted interventions have been deployed in the hardest-hit districts. Experts say this drought highlights the chronic underinvestment in irrigation infrastructure in the Terai.

The lack of coordination between local, provincial, and federal governments has made the situation worse, leaving farmers to fend for themselves during this deepening agricultural emergency.

What warning had former President Ram Baran Yadav given about the drought and water crisis in Madhes?

Former President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav had warned about the looming water and drought crisis in Madhes more than 15 years ago.

He had highlighted how rapid environmental degradation, especially the uncontrolled deforestation and destruction of the Chure (Siwalik) hills and surrounding uplands, had caused rivers and underground water sources in Madhes to dry up.

 Yadav pointed out that whereas earlier water could be accessed by digging 30–35 feet in places like his home village in Dhanusha, now even digging 300 feet often fails to find water. He urged the government to take serious steps to protect the Chure region and invest in water conservation programs.

His warnings were based on the understanding that the drought and irrigation problems in Madhes were not natural but human-induced, linked to neglect of ecological balance.

Though his concerns had been raised over a decade ago, the current drought crisis in Madhes is a grim validation of his foresight.

What are the long-term implications if drought continues in Madhes?

If the drought continues, the consequences for the Madhes region could be severe and long-lasting.

First, the paddy yield for 2025 will plummet, leading to lower food availability and higher prices in the market. This will hurt both consumers and farmers. Second, many farmers will incur unmanageable debts due to crop failure, pushing them into cycles of poverty and migration.

The abandonment of paddy farming in favor of less water-intensive crops may permanently change the cropping pattern of the region.

Soil degradation and groundwater depletion will intensify, especially in areas where excessive boring has been done to cope with the water crisis.

Education and health outcomes may also decline, as families are forced to divert income to survive. Experts warn that without a long-term drought adaptation and irrigation plan; Madhes may face recurring food insecurity.

The current drought is a wake-up call for serious agricultural policy reform in Nepal.