Nepal, June 20 -- Farmer Batu Devi Balayar of Dhangadhi is worried about her paddy crop. The paddy saplings are in danger of drying up in the seed beds before they can be transplanted because the monsoon rains are running late this year.

The saplings can be transplanted only when the fields are flooded. "Last year at this time, my paddy field had already turned green," the 60-year-old farmer said. "This year, it's difficult to protect the saplings in the seed beds."

Balayar said that farmers who have irrigation facility had started transplantation, but many farmers who rely on the skies are largely worried this year. "If there are no rains for a few more days, all saplings will get dried up." Many farmers in Kailali are waiting for rain...