Flood-prone farmers in Kailali turn to spring paddy to secure livelihoods

For generations, the farmers of Kailali in Nepal's southeastern plains have lived under the shadow of the monsoon. What should be a life-giving season often brought devastation, with swollen rivers like the Mohana, Kandra, Kandha, and Patharaiya routinely washing away the paddy transplanted with so much hope. This cycle of loss meant constant struggle, with many households facing food insecurity and relying on purchased rice.

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After setting aside enough for annual consumption, she sells the remainder. Last year alone, she earned Rs30,000 from paddy sales.

However, a quiet revolution is taking place. Farmers, driven by the harsh realities of climate change and increasingly intense floods, have begun to adapt. The cultivation of spring paddy, or 'chaite dhan,' is not just a new farming technique; it's a lifeline. By planting and harvesting months before the monsoon's peak, these resilient individuals are learning to outsmart the floods, ensuring their harvests are safe before the rivers rise.

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Earlier, there was no practice of transplanting spring paddy. Monsoon crops would fail, and sometimes we had to go hungry.

This adaptation is most evident in areas like Bhajani, Tikapur, Joshipur, and Kailari, which have historically borne the brunt of the floods. In Bhajani, specific wards have even been designated as paddy zones, a testament to the rapid expansion of this climate-resilient practice. This shift is more than just a change in crop cycles; it's altering the very fabric of local food systems. Farmers who once depended on wheat and bought rice are now producing enough to feed their families and sell the surplus, bringing much-needed economic relief and a sense of psychological security that was previously unimaginable.

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Those who had money bought rice from the market. Those who didn’t suffer the most.

Stories like Punshi Lama's, who has avoided hunger and earned a significant income from her spring paddy harvest, highlight the profound impact of this change. Her experience, and that of Sitaram Dagoura, who faced ridicule for pioneering the practice, underscore the courage and innovation of these farmers. While international coverage might focus on climate adaptation strategies in abstract terms, here in Kailali, it's a deeply personal, daily struggle for survival and dignity, demonstrating a powerful local response to a global challenge.

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Earlier, there was no practice of transplanting spring paddy. Monsoon crops would fail, and sometimes we had to go hungry.