Drought-hit Mugu seeks support

MUGU, Oct 12: Farmers in Mugu district have been hit hard due to drought in 24 of its VCDs. With their biggest festival, Dashain, just around the corner, the farmers are in no mood to celebrate as their crops have withered due to the draught that started from early August.

According to Chief District Officer Shambhu Prasad Regmi, a meeting of District Natural Disaster Relief Committee held on Sunday morning has decided to seek help from higher authority keeping in view of possible food crisis in the district. There were reports of complete damage to crops like rice, beans, millet, maize and other harvests across 3,659.29 hectares in the district.Stating that this could trigger acute food shortage in the villages, the District Administration Office has sought help from the National Planning Commission, Ministry of Agricultural and Ministry of Commerce And Supply.

Gamgadhi branch of Nepal Food Corporation has decided to send about 500 quintals of food products in the worst-hit VDCs of Soru in the northern part of the district.

Last year too, famers of the district had to bear a loss of Rs 130 million due to hailstorm. This year's drought has destroyed crops worth Rs 220 million, according to a preliminary report of the District Agriculture Development Office. The actual loss could be much higher.

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