KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 12

Nepal's paddy production is projected to decline by around five percent this year following extensive damage to the agricultural sector caused by heavy rains and floods, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development.

Information Officer at the Ministry, Mahananda Joshi, said that based on the estimated loss of Rs 3.55 billion in the agriculture and livestock sectors nationwide, rice output is likely to decrease by about 300,000 metric tonnes from last year's 5.96 million metric tonnes.

Joshi noted that climate-induced disasters-such as floods, prolonged rainfall, and soil erosion-have severely affected the country's main cereal crop. 'Although rice production had been increasing for the past few years and was expected to exceed six million metric tonnes this year, the recent weather events have disrupted that trend,' he said.

Unseasonal rainfall and hailstorms damaged large quantities of harvested paddy that were drying in open fields, leading to substantial losses for farmers.

The Ministry said that despite timely alerts from the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, many farmers were unable to harvest their crops before the rainfall. It added that efforts continue to support affected farmers through improved seeds, fertilizers, technology, and agribusiness initiatives.

(With inputs from RSS)