Harvesting Haze

The golden paddy field dancing along the gentle wind is one of the underrated beauty of the landscapes in Terai. Yet every September, large modern machinery used during harvesting disrupts this beauty.

These machines make harvesting faster and more efficient on large farms.

However, they release thick clouds of dust and fine hay particles in the air for days after the harvest.

As harvesting continues across multiple fields, these particles create a visible haze that settles in the landscapes of Terai. Thousands of farmers across the country breathe air filled with dust and fine particles during every harvest season.

And, these people who work so hard to grow the rice we consume often have to deal with itchy skin, allergies, irritated eyes, cold and cough because of the direct exposure to such a huge amount of concentrated dust. Agricultural pollution in Nepal still receives far less attention than it deserves.

Perhaps it’s time for us to understand that sometimes air pollution rises quietly from the very fields that feed us.