CHITWAN, NOVEMBER 18

Off-season rainfall in mid-October severely impacted paddy crop cultivated on 2551.18 hectares of land in the district.

According to Agriculture Knowledge Centre Bhaktapur, east Chitwan and Madi suffered massive loss due to the rains.

Kharihani, Ratnanagar, Bharatpur metropolis, Rapti, Madi, Kalika, and Ichhakamana rural municipalities were hit by the rains.

The area of land covered by rice cultivation is 27,281 hectares.

Continuous rains for four days beginning October 15, damaged the paddy crop on the eve of the harvest season.

In Khairahani, the damage is 9.49 percent. The centre said 9,070 metric tonnes of rice has been rendered unsuitable for consumption due to the rains. In the past years, 105,841 metric tonnes of rice would be produced in the district.

The centre has already collected the details of the loss from all local levels and sent them to the province ministry for compensation to farmers. The total loss is estimated to be equivalent to Rs 254 million.

A version of this article appears in the print on November 19, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.