Due to last week's unseasonal rainfall, paddy crops worth Rs. 134,300,000.in Lumbini Province have been completely destroyed.
The rainfall caused total damage to 3,897.68 metric tons of paddy crops across 896 hectares of land in seven out of the twelve districts of the province.
According to Senior Crop Protection Officer and Information Officer at the Provincial Agriculture Development Directorate, Milan Gaire, the loss was calculated based on the government's support price of Rs. 3,463.81 per quintal and the productivity rate of 4.33 metric tons per hectare.
This year, paddy was planted on 298,010 hectares in Lumbini Province. Based on the preliminary data collected, 0.30 percent of the total crop has been completely destroyed, informed Officer Gaire.
According to the Directorate, Rupandehi district recorded the highest loss, with 240 hectares of paddy fields completely destroyed, while Bardiya recorded the least, with 5 hectares affected. Among the most affected districts, Gulmi ranked second with 222 hectares, Nawalparasi West third with 201 hectares, and Kapilvastu fourth with 144 hectares of paddy crops completely damaged.
Similarly, Arghakhanchi recorded full damage to 53 hectares, and Palpa to 32 hectares of paddy fields, as reported by the Provincial Agriculture Development Directorate.
"Although the percentage of damage seems small, when viewed from the perspective of individual farmers, the loss is quite significant," said Directorate Chief Ram Prasad Pandey. "This is only the preliminary report, the verified data from municipalities and farmers will be available in a few days."
According to Senior Crop Protection Officer Gaire, 169,315 hectares (56.82 percent) of paddy crops have been harvested without damage, while 121,215 hectares (40.67 percent) are yet to be harvested. Among the harvested paddy, 7,250 hectares (2.43 percent) have become wet due to rainfall.
The Directorate further informed that there has been no crop damage so far in the districts of Dang, Banke, Rolpa, Pyuthan, and Eastern Rukum.