Kathmandu, Oct. 25: The recent rain and the disasters it caused have damaged rice crop worth Rs 7 billion throughout the country.

Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Krishna Prasad Acharya said the off-seasonal rain and the floods it caused destroyed 258 thousand 92 metric tonnes rice cultivated on about 68,000 hectares land.

The highest damage is reported in Bardiya, Kapilbastu, Banke and Rupandehi districts of Lumbini Province. The damage in these districts is put at Rs 4.51 billion. The rain damaged 161 thousand223 metric tonnes rice cultivated on nearly 42 thousand hectares.

Similarly, 68 thousand 400 metric tonnes rice cultivated on 18 thousand hectares has been destroyed in Kailali and Kanchanpur districts of Sudurpaschim Province. The market price of the damaged paddy is Rs 1.91 billion.

The rain has damaged 28 thousand 469 metric tonnes rice cultivated on 7,492 hectares land in Jhapa, Morang and Sunsari districts of Province no 1. The market price of the damaged rice is Rs 800 million.

The farmers, especially in these regions, are facing difficulties due to the incessant rains occurred in various places of the country since October 17. The Province Offices under the Ministry have been given the responsibility to collect data on the damage caused by the rain and rain-induced disasters in other provinces as well.

The Ministry has also formed a monitoring committee for providing relief and compensation to the sides concerned and dispatched it to the affected areas, Ministry spokesperson Prakash Kumar Sanjel said.

It is said the affected farmers would be provided with the assistance through coordination between the Ministry and the Province officials. More than 100 people have died and physical property worth billions of rupees has been destroyed by the flash flood, landslide and inundation caused by the torrential rains last week.