Youths protest government neglect of drought crisis in Madhes

 Kathmandu, August 1

Even though the government recently declared Madhes a drought-affected area, youths from the region held a protest in Kathmandu, accusing both the federal and provincial governments of not doing enough to address the crisis. Known as Nepal’s "rice bowl," Madhes is facing a severe lack of rainfall, which has deeply impacted agriculture.

The protesters criticized the government for only taking short-term steps like installing deep boring systems to access groundwater. They argued that this isn’t a sustainable solution. Sujit Pandit, who organized the protest, said long-term planning is necessary and blamed the overexploitation of the Chure hills for worsening the drought. He also said the government is ignoring the potential of using nearby rivers to irrigate the region, and in some districts, even drinking water is running out.

Protesters gathered at Maitighar Mandala, carrying placards with slogans such as “Deep boring is not the solution” and “Provide sustainable solutions and relief packages for farmers.” They demanded 24-hour free electricity for farmers and direct cash compensation for those affected. The protest was organized under the name ‘Madhes Agriculture-Water Movement Struggle Committee’.

Meanwhile, Januka Pandit, spokesperson for the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Management, said the ministry is keeping a close eye on the situation. She noted that if rainfall occurs within the next two weeks, the drought can still be managed. But if dry conditions persist for three more weeks, farmers may have to shift to alternative crops or different rice varieties.

As per the ministry’s July 29 data, only 51.82% of paddy had been planted in Madhes—by far the lowest among all provinces. The national average stands at 78.84%, with Sudurpaschim leading at 98.94%, followed by Lumbini (92.04%), Karnali (91.38%), Bagmati (87.19%), Gandaki (84.53%), and Koshi (80.39%).

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