Farming During Drought: Punarbas Community Responds
On April 6, 2025, a multidisciplinary team from the Institute for Himalayan Risk Reduction (IHRR) conducted a field visit to Punarbas Municipality, Kanchanpur, under the Khaderi Project to assess the impacts of prolonged drought on local agriculture. The team, including experts in agriculture, meteorology, and disaster risk reduction, engaged with local farmers and observed severe challenges caused by four consecutive years of winter drought, erratic monsoons, declining groundwater levels, and crop failures. Key findings highlighted a sharp decline in wheat, vegetable, and fruit production, growing economic strain on farmers, and rising secondary issues such as pest infestations and plant diseases. Despite the adversity, local communities demonstrated adaptive practices such as switching to drought-tolerant crops and modifying land use. The visit underscored the urgent need for coordinated interventions in groundwater recharge, climate-resilient agriculture, and economic support to strengthen community resilience against climate variability.