2025 Drought in Nepal's Madhesh Province: A rapid situational analysis

The document provides a rapid situational analysis of the 2025 drought in Nepal’s Madhesh Province, where prolonged precipitation deficits since the 2024–25 winter and weak monsoon rains have triggered a severe agricultural and livelihood crisis. Declared a “disaster crisis zone” by the government in July 2025, Madhesh is facing depleted groundwater, widespread borehole failures, and acute drinking water shortages. The drought has hit hardest in the rice-producing districts of Mahottari, Dhanusha, and Siraha, where delayed planting, crop failures, and vegetation stress threaten to reduce rice production by up to 450,000 metric tons—about 10% of Nepal’s national supply—posing serious risks to food security and rural incomes.

The document further highlights the government’s emergency responses, including deep tubewell installation, small irrigation schemes, and expedited farmer support, while ICIMOD provides satellite-based monitoring and technical guidance. It emphasizes short-term relief measures such as drought-tolerant crops, alternative irrigation, and food and water aid, alongside long-term adaptation strategies like crop diversification, sustainable groundwater management, nature-based recharge systems, and climate-smart agriculture. Calling for urgent coordinated action, ICIMOD stresses that scaling up both immediate relief and long-term resilience measures is essential to protect livelihoods and strengthen food security in the province and beyond.