Unseasonal Rains Set to Reduce Farm Output This Year

Unseasonal rainfall this year is expected to lead to a significant decline in agricultural production as it caused widespread damage to crops, livestock and related infrastructure across several provinces.

According to a report submitted recently to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development by a committee formed to compile, analyse and verify damage caused by unseasonal rains, five provinces were badly affected. The total impacted area stood at 15,499 hectares, with production of major crops—particularly paddy, sugarcane, vegetables and fruits—estimated to fall by about 127,383 metric tonnes.

The committee has estimated crop-related economic losses, including seeds, at around Rs 3.55 billion. Of this, Madhesh Province alone accounts for about Rs 3.22 billion, the highest among all provinces.

According to the report, losses in livestock, fisheries and fodder production amounted to about Rs 161.5 million, damage to agricultural and livestock infrastructure stood at about Rs 10.6 million, losses at government offices totalled Rs 5.9 million, land erosion caused damage worth Rs 37.1 million, and seed losses were estimated at about Rs 28.1 million. Altogether, the total damage caused by unseasonal rainfall has been assessed at around Rs 3.76 billion. Among crop categories, vegetables suffered the highest losses—estimated at about Rs 1.26 billion—accounting for 35.45 percent of the total damage.

In terms of provincial impact, Madhesh Province was the worst hit, with total losses estimated at about Rs 3.36 billion. Paddy crops in all eight districts of the province were damaged, while vegetables, fruits, sugarcane and livestock were also affected. Koshi Province recorded losses of about Rs 368.4 million, mainly in paddy, vegetables, large cardamom, ginger, banana, potato, tea and millet.

Losses in Bagmati Province stood at about Rs 20.5 million, while Gandaki Province and Lumbini Province recorded damages of about Rs 1.3 million and Rs 15.6 million, respectively, according to committee coordinator and joint secretary at the ministry Jagannath Tiwari.

The committee has recommended that local governments in the affected municipalities of Koshi Province implement livestock rehabilitation programmes to support small farmers hit by floods and landslides. Likewise, it has suggested introducing fishery rehabilitation programmes for small-scale fish farmers affected by floods in Madhesh Province. The panel has further recommended that funding for such recovery programmes be incorporated into both federal and provincial conditional grant schemes.-- RSS