KATHMANDU, August 17: Recent floods and landslides in different parts of the country affected crops worth Rs 3.64 billion, data compiled by the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MoAD) shows.

Loss in the central region is worth Rs 2.65 billion, crops worth Rs 655 million is estimated to have been destroyed in the eastern region, according to a report submitted to parliament's Agriculture and Water Resources Committee by the MoAD on Wednesday. 

According to the report, the mid-western region, far-western region and western region lost agro produces worth Rs 214.9 million, Rs 108.3 million and Rs 5.7 million, respectively. 

The floods mostly affected crops in 15 districts of central and eastern regions as well as three districts of western region. The report shows that paddy crop suffered major damage, followed by vegetables and fisheries in 29 districts. Paddy crop in 198,698 hectare of land is estimated to have been damaged by the floods. Similarly, vegetables cultivated in 49,136 hectare and fish farms in 3,561 hectare were damaged by the floods, according to the ministry.

Similarly, the floods also destroyed maize planted in 8,352 hectare, lentils in 1,611 hectare, banana in 53 hectare, groundnuts in 15 hectare, oil-bearing crops in 155 hectare and millet in 1.34 hectare. 

Paddy fields in Bara have suffered the most, according to the report. The flood inundated almost 55,800 hectare of paddy field in the district followed by Rautahat (28,500), Sarlahi (27,260 hectare), Dhanusha (23,529 hectare), Mahottari (20,635) and Parsa (20,000 hectare). Similarly, paddy planted in 13,502 hectare in Bardiya, 4,000 hectare in Banke, 2,600 hectare in Kailali, 369 hectare in Rasuwa, 32 hectare in Ramechhap was also damaged by floods and landslides.

According to MoAD, farmers, who have planted flood-tolerant, won't have to face much loss.

Similarly, vegetables planted in 10,044 hectare in Saptari were destroyed by the floods followed by 9,675 hectare in Bara, 6,541 hectare in Morang, 6,190 hectare in Sunsari, 5,891 hectare in Jhapa, 5,000 hectare in Mahottari, 2,771 hectare in Siraha and 1,473 hectare in Dhanusa. Likewise, flood destroyed vegetables planted in 850 hectare in Kailali, 500 hectare in Sarlahi, 101 hectare in Bardiya, 160 hectare in Rautahat, 60 hectare in Banke and 50 hectare in Lalitpur. 

Fish farms in 3,561 hectares were damaged by the floods. Mahottari suffered the most as fish farms in 1,100 hectare were damaged by the flood followed by Sarlahi (800 hectare), Dhanusha (778 hectare), Bara (500 hectare), Rautahat (160 hectare), Bardiya (70 hectare), Banke (60 hectare), Chitwan (60 hectare) and Parsa (10 hectare). 

MoAD officials also told the committee that the ministry was preparing to announce compensation package for farmers who suffered huge loss due to the floods.

 
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