Paddy Production in Nepal Expected to Decline by 5% Due to Unseasonal Rains

KATHMANDU: Paddy production in Nepal is projected to decline by five percent this year following significant damage to the agricultural sector caused by unseasonal rains and hailstorms.

Based on an analysis by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, the losses in the agriculture and livestock sector amount to Rs 3.55 billion nationwide. Out of the 5.955 million metric tonnes of rice produced last year, a shortfall of around 300,000 metric tonnes (3%) is expected this year, said Information Officer Mahananda Joshi.

The Ministry noted that climate change has exacerbated the impact of disasters such as floods, heavy rainfall, and soil erosion. While rice production had been steadily increasing over the past four to five years, the target of over 6 million metric tonnes could not be met due to crop damage.

Joshi added that losses were particularly severe for harvested paddy left to dry in the fields, which was affected by water-logging and continuous rains. Although the Meteorological Department had issued timely warnings, the Ministry’s advisory for farmers to delay harvesting until the weather cleared did not fully prevent losses.

The Ministry continues to support farmers with fertilizers, bio-business initiatives, technology, and high-quality seeds to mitigate the impact of the adverse weather conditions.