Unseasonal rains damage paddy  crops worth Rs 7.22 billion

KATHMANDU: The government has said that the paddy crops worth Rs 7.22 billion have been ruined by the unseasonal rains that occurred across the country earlier this week. 

Unveiling a report on Friday, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development shared that the three-day [Sunday-Tuesday] torrential rain inflicted the loss of ready-to-harvest paddy crops in 198,521 hectares of land. 

According to the ministry, three provinces --- Lumbini, Sudur Paschim and Province 1--- were hit hard by the unseasonal rains triggered by cyclonic conditions in the Bay of Bengal and the westerly wind. 

Of the three provinces, Lumbini reported the heaviest loss. Paddy crops planted in 93,676 hectares of land were ruined. The loss has amounted to Rs 4.51 billion.

Of the 55,000 hectares of land impacted by this year’s unexpected rains, the paddy crops planted in 18,000 hectares were completely damaged in Sudur Paschim Province, reveals the report released by the ministry. The loss equals to Rs 1.91 billion. 

Similarly, Province 1 reported the loss of paddy crops worth Rs 800 million. The rains impacted the ready-to-harvest crops in an area of 49,945 hectares of land. 

Districts in the south-western part of the country including Bardiya, Kapilvastu, Banke, Rupandehi, Kailali and Kanchanpur and those lying in the eastern terai --- Jhapa, Morang and Sunsari---  have reported the heavy loss of paddy crops.