Nepal’s paddy production is expected to fall by 75,674 tons after unseasonal heavy rainfall on October 3–4 damaged crops across the country. According to preliminary data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD), 20,001 hectares of paddy fields were affected, causing an estimated loss of Rs 2.66 billion.
Koshi Province suffered the greatest loss, with 12,432 hectares damaged across 14 districts—equivalent to 56,267 tons of paddy worth Rs 2.01 billion.
Jhapa district alone saw damage to 4,364 hectares, the highest among all districts.
Other provinces reported the following losses:
- Madhesh Province: 416 hectares affected; loss of 1,297 tons valued at Rs 41.33 million
- Bagmati Province: 6,066 hectares affected; loss of 13,720 tons worth Rs 45.35 million
- Gandaki Province: loss of 521 tons valued at Rs 18.06 million
- Lumbini Province: loss of 3,858 tons worth Rs 136.82 million
The reduced harvest has pushed Nepal’s rice and paddy imports up by over 46% in the first four months of the current fiscal year, reaching Rs 10.18 billion between mid-July and mid-November.
