Rain-Induced Disasters Inflict Rs 6 Billion in Damage to Agriculture Sector: Preliminary Details

The rain-induced disasters last weekend caused damage worth around Rs 6 billion to the country’s agricultural sector, the preliminary details made public by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development on Tuesday, October 1, show.

Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati and Gandaki provinces were most affected in the disasters.

The destruction to paddy planted by the farmers in 20 districts alone accounted for more than half of the total damage. The country’s staple food worth Rs 3.5 billion planted over 58,476 hectares of land have been destroyed in floods, landslides and inundation, according to the ministry.

Similarly, fish ponds worth Rs 1.13 billion, spread over 458 hectares in six districts of Madhes Province; cardamom worth Rs 700 million, planted across 1300 hectare of land in Khotang; and sugarcane worth Rs 340 million, cultivated in 85 hectares of land in Parsa have been destroyed. 

The ministry also said that over 26,000 livestock died in Madhes Province and nine other districts, and 24 animal sheds were destroyed in Panchthar, Dhankuta and Terhathum districts.

The rain-induced disasters also caused damage to vegetables grown in 4,743 hectares of land in eight districts including Khotang and Bara, and orchards spread across 22 hectares of land in Kaski, Nawalparasi East, Kanchanpur and Rautahat districts. 

The ministry also said that physical infrastructure in its offices at various places worth Rs 160 million were ruined by the disasters.