In Western Terai, its time for a transition of two major agricultural activities- from rice harvest to wheat sowing. There is an acute shortage of labor. Soon after the rice harvest, the leftover straw, ratoons, and rice-stubbles are burnt for lack of easy alternatives. The use of straw for cattle is in decline. The Field-fire is the easiest and the most common practice here. Even the government agencies and research centers do the same.
Soon after burning, the fields are tilled for wheat cultivation. The farmers are in a competition and hurry to sow their next crop. If they are late to sow now, they fear to the delay in the next crop, months later.
The roads are mostly dusty and countryside are smoky. The fog common to both the places is expected soon. There is no concern of the people's health. The hospitals are crowded. There must be a link between pollution and sickness. The adverse effect is clear on the bees.
Several farmers have mustard and bees on the adjacent fields. The mustards are flowering and we assume the bees must have been happy. But they are not. The smoke from the rice straw burning has displaced the bees from their artificial ( I mean prepared by the beekeepers) hives to their natural safety. A hive of bee has come outside my room. I am glad to host them safe from the farmers. But the straw burners are out of my control.
A colony of bees left its hive and took refuge outside my room. Welcome bees.
