Kathmandu— The Karnali provincial government has established a task force to investigate drought conditions affecting agricultural areas in Salyan and Surkhet. The initiative, spearheaded by Chitra Bahadur Rokaya, aims to assess the impact of insufficient rainfall on paddy cultivation and recommend solutions for farmers struggling with delayed planting seasons.

Task Force Composition

The task force comprises five members: Chitra Bahadur Rokaya, a senior agricultural economist at the Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives; an engineer from the Ministry of Water Resources and Energy Development; two engineers representing local government offices in Salyan and Surkhet; and Bishal Khatri, a horticulture development officer. The team will conduct field studies to identify causes of drought and assess its impact on agricultural production.

Government Response

The decision to form the task force was prompted by concerns raised during a Karnali Provincial Assembly meeting on July 31, where member Bhim Prakash Sharma highlighted the plight of farmers in Salyan and Surkhet. The government’s response includes visiting affected areas, coordinating with local stakeholders, and developing recommendations for immediate relief measures and long-term solutions to address water shortages.

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.