Sports Minister Gahatraj inspects drought-hit area in Banke

• Minister Gahatraj makes commitment  to take initiate to provide special relief package for Narainapur farmers

KOHALPUR: Youth and Sports Minister Maheshwor Jung Gahatraj (Athak) carried out an on-site inspection of Narainapur area in Banke district on Monday. Minister Gahatraj reached the Narainapur which is facing drought due to a lack of rain for a long time. The fear of starvation has increased in Narainapur as it has not rained for a long time and the planted rice seedlings have dried up and turned into hay. Minister Gahatraj, who is also a member of the House of Representatives elected from Banke Constituency 1, has shown interest in it. During the inspection, Sports Minister promised to take initiative to provide relief packages for the farmers of Narainapur. Minister Gahatraj said the government at all levels should pay special attention to saving the farmers of Narainapur from starvation. He promised to take initiative to solve the problems. [caption id="attachment_28214" align="alignnone" width="1000"] Crack s are seen on the earth in drought-hit Narainapur area, Banke district, on Monday, August 29, 2022.[/caption] The farmers of Narainapur have lost their hope of cultivation after it did not rain till the third week of August. The farmers of Narainapur have expressed their sorrow that they could not get a chance to plant paddy even after plantations have already taken place in other areas. It has to be noted that there is no irrigation facility in the region due to which local farmers have to rely on rainwater. Istiyaq Ahmad Shah, chairperson of Narainapur Rural Municipality, said these are signs of famine in Narainpur this year. he urged the Minister to provide relief from the central government to save the farmers from starvation. President Shah said that the situation arising out of drought could be dire and that the central and provincial governments should provide relief packages. There are 3,966 hectares of land in Narainapur. Sadan Bhandari, Chief of Narainapur Agriculture Branch, informed that paddy planted only on 15% of the land has also dried up due to lack of timely rain. Sagar Dhakal, Chief of Agriculture Knowledge Centre, Banke, said 99% of the plantation has been completed in Banke district except for Narainpur. Ramnaresh Harijan, a farmer of Narainapur-3, said that the hope of farming has died because the seedlings ready for plantation have dried up. He lamented that local farmers have to depend on rainwater for their crops since the Sikta Irrigation Project has delayed the construction of canals. READ ALSO:

• Nepal, Finland to cooperate to reduce climate-induced natural disasters
• Govt has prioritised climate change impact reduction policy: PM Deuba
• China plans cloud seeding to protect grain crop amid drought
• Berlin hosts envoys for heart-to-heart talks on climate