Heavy Rainfall Causes Rs 3.55 Billion Loss in Agriculture, Livestock Sectors

Heavy rainfall in early October caused losses worth Rs 3.55 billion to the country’s agriculture and livestock sectors, according to a preliminary assessment of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development.

The ministry said it has gathered information on the damage to crops, livestock, infrastructure, and seeds in coordination with agricultural offices in all provinces and local authorities.

Information Officer Mahananda Joshi said the Ministry will coordinate with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) to provide relief, insurance support, and other assistance to the affected farmers.

He said a task force has been formed to further assess the extent of the damage. Most of the harvested paddy in the fields had been soaked and spoiled due to the excess rainfall, leading to a projected decline in overall production, he added.

Data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development show that Nepal produced 5.96 million metric tons of paddy last year — a 4.04 percent increase compared to the previous year. Paddy contributes the most to Nepal’s agricultural GDP, which accounted for 25.15 percent of the total economy in the last fiscal year, according to the National Statistics Office.

Experts warn that the current rainfall could reduce both the quality and quantity of the harvest.

Joshi emphasized that the heavy losses to the harvest-ready paddy necessitates urgent assistance for the affected farmers. Joshi also pointed out that due to the Ministry's limited budget, support such as fertilizers, seeds, technology, and technical skills has been made available to the affected farmers through a streamlined system in collaboration with the NDRRMA.    

According to him, further studies and research will be conducted based on the collected data to prepare and implement detailed plans aimed at enhancing preparedness and minimizing future risks. -- RSS