In Nepal, instead of growing traditional crops like wheat, maize or millet, some farmers are switching to a very unlikely substitute: bananas.
Rainfall has become unpredictable in Nepal, and extreme weather, like floods and drought, has reduced the amount the farms produce.
Climate change experts say farmers are feeling the impact of global warming. The farmers don't seem concerned about the reason the rain comes early, or late -- or not at all. They're mainly worried about putting food on the family table.
And in a country where 75 percent of the population depends on agriculture, that concern is felt by many. The farmers who switched to bananas have doubled their income in a short time -– and they're happy about that. But the erratic weather makes it difficult to plan religious rituals that are usually performed just before the rainy season. |
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