September 1, 2014, 6:00 pm 
Natural calamities this year damaged standing paddy and vegetables on 35,804.1 hectares in 17 districts.
The flood damaged crops in Bardiya, Banke, Dang, Kanchanpur, Siraha and Rautahat that are considered the bread basket, according to spokesperson of Ministry of Agricultural Development Uday Chandra Thakur.
The projected loss is estimated at Rs 2 billion in rice alone, he said, adding
that rice production might fall by more than 10 per cent because of landslides, flooding and drought that has damaged land. Rice is the main contributor to the agricultural gross domestic product.
The Tarai districts, which are strong in paddy production, were also affected by flood. Among the 17 most affected districts Banke, Bardiya, Kailali, Kanchanpur, Siraha, Rautahat and Dang are Tarai districts. Likewise Sindhupalchok, Ramechhap, Achham, Bajhang, Darchula, Baitadi, Lamjung, Gorkha and Kaski are hilly districts.
The landslides damaged 21.6 hectares of paddy in Sindhupalchok and the Sunkoshi submerged paddies at Ramche and Dhuskun villages when landslide blocked the river at Mankha village, he added. “Loss of paddy production in Sindhupalchok alone is estimated at Rs 13.5 million.”
Likewise, some 3,941 hectars of paddy land was damaged in Surkhet district – the highest among all the flood affected districts, the ministry informed, adding that Rautahat farmers witnessed damage of 2,052 hectares of land, where they had paddy. “Bardiya (509.6), Banke (1,946 hectares), Kailali (398), Kanchanpur (266.4), Baitadi (42.5), Dang (200), Darchula (6.2), Bajhang (1,013), Achham (2.5), Siraha (442), Ramechhap (0.8), Kaski (50), Gorkha (15) and Lamjung (2.6) hectars of paddy land.”
With rice and paddy, some 42,506 livestock were also affected by the flood, Thakur said.
The flood and landslide also damaged some 30,919 households.
