Drought Threatens Livelihoods in Humla, Nepal

A severe drought has affected Humla, threatening the livelihoods of local farmers as their crops fail. The lack of rainfall has resulted in the drying up of ready-to-harvest wheat fields across several villages including Bargaun, Thehe, Limatang, and Torpa.

Farmers in the Simkot Rural Municipality sectors 1 through 4 report devastating losses, with crops ruined and no immediate prospects for new cultivation. Gajima Lama, from Simkot Rural Municipality-3, expressed fears of a potential famine due to the absence of snow this past winter, which traditionally replenishes the region’s water sources. “There may be a situation of starvation,” Lama stated, highlighting the severity of the crisis.

Local farmers, including Gaugora Bohara from Thehegaun, are unable to plant chilies, corn, pumpkins, and other vegetables as they await the delayed monsoon rains. “Eight to ten years ago, the fields were not dry like this,” Bohara recalled, underscoring the drastic change in climate conditions affecting their agricultural practices.

The community urgently calls for support and sustainable solutions to mitigate the impact of this ongoing drought and secure their future food supplies.