Cyclone Arnab Threatens Harvested Crops in Nepal
Summary
Cyclone Arnab in the Bay of Bengal is expected to affect Nepal from Thursday night, raising fears of heavy rain, strong winds and post-harvest damage to ripe paddy. Farmers and agricultural groups are urging the government to provide practical storage and harvesting support, not just weather alerts.
Key Points
- Cyclone Arnab is expected to affect Nepal from Thursday night and bring bad weather to several provinces.
- Farmers fear harvested paddy will rot, sprout, or be flattened if rain and gusty winds arrive during harvest season.
- The government has sent SMS alerts and advisories, but critics say it has not provided practical support such as tarpaulins, storage, or dryers.
- Agricultural experts and farmer leaders say repeated harvest-time losses threaten food security and need immediate compensation and preparedness measures.
