In Nepal’s Madhesh Province, widely known as the nation’s ‘Grain Basket’, an unprecedented monsoon failure in July 2025 has led to a severe drought, disrupting rice transplantation and threatening food security. ICIMOD’s Earth Observation analysis reveals over 40% of rice fields under stress, with potential losses of up to 450,000 metric tons, posing a nationwide economic and food crisis.
The Lal Bakaiya River in Nepal’s Madhesh Province is no stranger to floods, as rising riverbeds, degraded Chure hills, and unplanned development turn monsoon rains into prolonged disasters. ICIMOD is strengthening local resilience through Community-Based Early Flood Warning Systems (CBFEWS) and innovative gamification of preparedness training, making life-saving knowledge accessible and engaging for all. Combined with integrated watershed management efforts, these initiatives aim to tackle the region’s ‘Too Much Too Little’ water crisis and break the cycle of recurring floods.
In May 2024, ICIMOD brokered a cooperative agreement between at-risk municipalities to setup a basket fund for an early warning system.
As global temperatures rise, hazards are increasing in south-central Nepal. A series of community-led projects supported by ICIMOD and the Government of Australia are helping communities adapt.