𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐀𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐃𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐑𝐚𝐢𝐧

…𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒚 𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒈𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒊𝒆𝒍𝒅𝒔, 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒑 𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒓𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒍 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒔

By Lhendup Wangmo

Farmers across Bhutan are facing one of the toughest harvest seasons in recent years as continuous rainfall has waterlogged fields and delayed harvesting. In districts such as Dagana, Paro, Punakha, and Samtse, local communities are struggling to bring in their paddy crops on time, raising concerns over crop quality and potential losses. Gups and villagers alike report that months of hard work risk being undone by unpredictable weather, while many farmers remain anxious but resilient, waiting for sunlight to dry their fields. With climate change contributing to erratic rainfall patterns, traditional farming practices are being increasingly challenged, threatening not just livelihoods but the long-standing agricultural rhythms that sustain rural communities.

Singye Dorji, Gup of Drujeygang, said that it has been a difficult time for farmers during the paddy harvest season. Due to continuous rainfall, the fields have become waterlogged, making it tough for farmers to harvest their crops on time.
A villager, Karma Dema from Dagana, said, “We usually start harvesting around this time of the year, but the rain hasn’t stopped for days. The paddy is ready, yet we cannot bring it in because the fields are completely soaked. Some of our crops have already started to rot, and we are helplessly watching our hard work being washed away. Every year, we depend on this harvest to sustain our families and cover our expenses, but this time, we fear that we might lose a major portion of it. If the weather doesn’t improve soon, it will be a huge setback for many of us farmers in the community.”

In Paro, Tshering Dorji, the Gup of Dopshari Gewog under Paro Dzongkhag, said that usually by the end of October, most farmers in the area complete their paddy harvest. “It’s almost November, yet many farmers have not even started harvesting,” he said. “Continuous rainfall has delayed the process, and farmers are now worried about the quality of their yield. The longer the crops remain in the fields under wet conditions, the higher the chances of damage and lower-quality grains. This has created a lot of anxiety among the farming community, as the harvest season is already stretching beyond the usual time frame.”

Pema Wangmo, a farmer from Paro, said, “We have been waiting for the rain to stop, but it just keeps coming. Usually, by this time of the year, we are done harvesting and preparing the grains for storage. But now, the fields are completely filled with water, and we cannot even step in without sinking into the mud. Some of my paddy has already started to turn black, and I am afraid the grains will lose their quality. It feels heartbreaking because we have put in so much hard work throughout the season, and now it seems like all our effort might go to waste. Many of us depend solely on this harvest to support our families, so this situation has caused a lot of worry and uncertainty in our community.”

Farmers in the region believe that unpredictable weather patterns in recent years could be linked to the growing impacts of climate change. They say that rainfall used to follow a more predictable pattern in the past, allowing them to plan their planting and harvesting schedules with confidence. However, in recent years, the seasons have become increasingly erratic, either bringing heavy rain during harvest time or long dry spells during planting. This uncertainty has made farming more challenging than ever. Many farmers fear that if such extreme weather continues, it could threaten the future of paddy cultivation and traditional farming practices that have sustained rural livelihoods for generations.

Sonam Dorji said, “Our entire livelihood depends on this harvest. If we can’t harvest on time, the paddy will spoil in the fields. We also need good weather to dry the grains properly, otherwise they will not store well. With the delays, many of us are worried that we won’t get the same income we used to. We are hoping that the weather clears soon so that we can at least save what’s left.”

In Punakha, Tshering Penjor, the Gup of Toebisa Gewog, said that farmers are anxiously waiting for the sun to come out so they can continue their harvest. “Some of the villagers have already managed to harvest their paddy, but many are still waiting for clearer weather,” he said. “The continuous rainfall has made it difficult to dry the grains properly, and the wet conditions are beginning to affect their quality.”

He added that, in the past, there has been no compensation from the government for weather-related crop damage, yet the villagers have remained patient and resilient. “The people have not complained,” Tshering Penjor said. “They are simply hoping for the sun to appear soon so that they can finish their work. Despite the challenges, our farmers continue to endure with a strong spirit and deep faith in better days ahead.”

Sonam Choden, a farmer from Punakha, said, “Usually by this time, the sun is out, and we have already stored our grains. But this year, the weather has completely changed. The paddy fields are still muddy, and we cannot dry the harvest properly. Some of us are using tarpaulins and even kitchen fires to dry a few bundles, but it’s not enough. We are really worried that the rice might spoil before we can store it. We keep looking at the sky every morning, hoping for the sun to shine. Without sunlight, it’s hard to dry and thresh the paddy. Even if we manage to harvest, wet grains don’t store well and can easily rot. We don’t expect compensation, but we hope the weather improves soon.

Farming is our main source of income, and a bad harvest affects everything from paying school fees to buying daily necessities.”
In Samtse, Robat Lepcha, the Gup of Pemaling Gewog, said that the harvesting season is now underway. “The Dzongkhag administration has already been informed about the situation, and some farmers have managed to complete their harvest,” he said. “For others, this is the peak time to harvest their paddy, but the continuous rainfall has made it difficult to work in the fields. The wet conditions are slowing down the process, and farmers are worried about the quality of their grains if the rain continues.”