Kathmandu, July 2 -- Lal Bahadur Kewat of Lohraula in Buddhabhumi Municipality, Kapilvastu was busy transplanting paddy on Monday when his neighbour informed him that a swarm of locusts had descended on his vegetable farm.

By the time Kewat reached his farm, his green beans and bitter gourds on one-and-a-half katthas of land had already been destroyed.

"Everything was completely ravaged. I just cried looking at the loss," said Kewat. "We [farmers] are being hit from everywhere."

Kewat had taken a loan of Rs20,000 for his vegetables, which had just begun to bear fruit. With green beans and bitter gourds in season, he had hoped to earn Rs150,000.

"It's all gone," said Kewat, who has a family of six to feed.

Farmers in Kapilvastu have l...