Heavy rainfall inflicts NRs 3.55 billion in agricultural damages

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has stated that heavy rainfall in October has resulted in damages amounting to 3.55 billion rupees across the country's agriculture and livestock sectors. 
The Ministry has compiled information regarding the impact of the heavy rains on crops, livestock, infrastructure, and seeds. Agricultural offices in all provinces have collaborated with local authorities to gather this damage data.

According to the collected data, the Ministry will work with the National Disaster Authority to offer assistance, facilities, insurance support, and relief to farmers affected by the flooding, as stated by Information Officer Mahananda Joshi. He mentioned that a task force has been established to further assess the extent of the damage. Joshi noted that all harvested paddy in the fields has been soaked and spoiled due to the excess water, leading to a projected decline in crop production as a result of the rainfall.

He emphasized that significant losses from the inability to harvest the paddy necessitate the provision of essential assistance and facilities to the impacted 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 affected farmers through a streamlined system in collaboration with the Disaster Authority. He added that further studies and research will be undertaken in the coming days based on the damage data to develop and implement detailed plans aimed at enhancing vigilance and reducing risks.