By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Oct. 26: Paddy worth about Rs. 8.26 billion has been lost to floods and landslides caused by the post-monsoon rains across the country.
According to a preliminary report of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, paddy grown in about 85,580 hectares of land in all seven provinces was damaged by floods and rains.
The ministry said that around 325,258 tonnes of paddy worth Rs. 8.26 billion produced in 85,580 hectares has been damaged by the unseasonal rains.

The highest loss of 161,223 tonnes of paddy worth Rs. 4.51 billion was in Lumbini Province, according to the ministry.
Similarly, 68,400 tonnes of paddy worth Rs. 1.91 billion has been damaged in Sudurpaschim Province, 28,469 tonnes of paddy worth Rs. 800 million in Province 1 and 20,250 tonnes worth Rs. 560 million in Province 2.

The rain has caused damage to paddy crops worth Rs. 300 million (40,219 tonnes) in Karnali Province, Rs. 130 million (4,530 tonnes) in Gandaki Province, and Rs. 58 million (2,068 tonnes) in Bagmati Province.
According to the ministry, paddy planted in an area of 285,509 hectares, including 93,576 hectares in Lumbini, 55,000 hectares in Sudurpaschim, 49,945 hectares in Province 1, 48,684 hectares in Province 2, 7,500 hectares in Bagmati, 8,304 hectares in Gandaki and 22,500 in Karnali has been affected by the rains.

The rains have affected four districts, Bardiya, Kapilvastu, Banke and Rupandehi of Lumbini Province the most, and the farmers of these districts have incurred huge losses.
The damage occurred in Syangja, Kaski and Nawalparasi districts of Gandaki Province.

Similarly, paddy crops grown in Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari of Province 1, and Saptari, Siraha and Sarlahi of Province 2 have been affected badly.
The paddy crops in Dolpa, Jumla, Salyan and Surkhet in Karnali and Kailali and Kanchanpur in Sudurpaschim were also affected, the ministry said.