Nepali farmers race against time as extreme weather threatens harvest

Oct 29, 2026

Lalitpur (Nepal), October 29 (ANI): The fields are golden, the paddy is ripe, and the harvest is ready. But for farmers in Bungmati, the biggest challenge is no longer just bringing in the crop. It is getting it safely through the rain. As Cyclone Arnab makes landfall along India’s Bay of Bengal coast, its influence is extending rainfall into Nepal, a landlocked Himalayan nation that depends on weather systems originating over the Bay of Bengal for much of its monsoon rainfall. With heavy showers forecast during the harvest season, farmers are racing against time to protect months of hard work from excess moisture. Paddy harvesting is a critical seasonal activity in Nepal, where rice remains a staple crop and a major contributor to rural livelihoods and food security. For Seema Shakya KC, every passing hour matters. She moves from one plot to another, working alongside other labourers to harvest the paddy and prepare it for threshing. The objective is simple: get the crop off the fields and minimise the risk of damage before the next spell of rain. A similar scene is seen across the terraced slope of this medieval town on the outskirts of the Kathmandu Valley, where farmers work in groups to complete the work before the clouds gather pace. In Nepal’s Terai and mid-hill regions, fields have turned golden as paddy crops mature in late October. Agriculture contributes around 22 to 24 per cent of Nepal’s GDP and supports nearly two-thirds of its households. But as the harvest season arrives, unpredictable weather is raising concerns. With dark clouds gathering over the fields, farmers are racing against time to save their crops from untimely rain.