KATHMANDU, Dec 2: Paddy production is estimated to drop by 75,674 tons due to the impacts of unseasonal and heavy rainfall of October 3-4.
As per the preliminary reports of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD), the incessant rain directly affected paddy cultivation on 20,001 hectares of land area. In monetary value, the amount of loss is projected at Rs 2.6641 billion.
Paddy production projected to drop to 5.15 million tons
Jhapa district, facing damages on its rice field of 4,364 hectares, was the highest among the most affected regions. Bardiya district witnessed losses on five hectares of the paddy cultivation.
A total land area of 12,432 hectares in 14 districts of Koshi Province sustained damages in their paddy cultivation. The economic loss in the province is projected to be 56,267 tons of paddies worth Rs 2.01 billion.
Likewise, 416 hectares of the affected land in eight districts of Madhesh Province are likely to reduce paddy yield by 1,297 tons amounting Rs 41.33 million. Similarly, Bagmati Province is expected to see a decline of 13,720 tons of paddy worth Rs 45.35 million due to the disaster. A total rice plantation area of 6,066 hectares was affected in 10 districts of the province.
The MoALD has estimated a fall of 521 tons of paddy worth Rs 18.06 million in Gandaki Province. The loss of 3,858 tons of paddy worth Rs 136.82 million has been estimated in Lumbini Province.
As a result of the adverse effect on paddy harvest, Nepal’s import of paddy and rice soared more than 46 percent in just four months of the current fiscal year. The country imported paddy and rice worth Rs 10.18 billion during mid-July and mid-November.
