Jumla farmers busy harvesting Marshi rice

Farmers in Jumla are currently busy harvesting and bringing in Marshi rice. Sunita Pandey, a local resident of Tatopani Rural Municipality, said the work of tending to the rice crop has added to the bustle of Dashain.

According to her, many farmers have prioritised fieldwork over celebrating the festival. Farmers are engaged in cutting rice in the fields from early morning until late evening.

Ramabhakta Adhikari, chief of the Agriculture Development Office, Jumla, said Marshi rice is tied to Jumla's identity. According to him, this rice cultivation has its own season, and farmers are in the fields accordingly at present.

According to the office, rice is cultivated on about 2,850 hectares in the district. While the area under Marshi rice cultivation has been gradually increasing in recent years, it has declined this year. The office said that whereas around 1,500 hectares were planted with Marshi rice last year, only about 1,200 hectares have been cultivated this year.