Heavy October Rains Trigger Major Decline in Nepal’s Paddy Output

Nepal’s paddy harvest is expected to take a significant hit this year, with new estimates indicating a drop of 75,674 tons following the intense and untimely rainfall on October 3–4. According to preliminary assessments by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD), the excessive rain damaged 20,001 hectares of paddy fields across the country, resulting in losses valued at Rs. 2.6641 billion.

Jhapa district recorded the highest level of destruction, with 4,364 hectares of paddy fields affected, while Bardiya reported losses across five hectares. In Koshi Province alone, 12,432 hectares of cropland were damaged, leading to an estimated decline of 56,267 tons of paddy worth Rs. 2.01 billion. Madhesh Province is projected to lose 1,297 tons of paddy valued at Rs. 41.33 million due to damage over 416 hectares.

Bagmati Province is also bracing for a reduction of 13,720 tons of paddy worth Rs. 45.35 million, as 6,066 hectares of fields were hit by the unseasonal downpour. Losses in Gandaki Province are estimated at 521 tons valued at Rs. 18.06 million, while Lumbini Province expects a decline of 3,858 tons amounting to Rs. 136.82 million.

With the decline in domestic output, Nepal’s reliance on imports has intensified. In the first four months of the current fiscal year, the country’s paddy and rice imports surged by more than 46 percent, reaching Rs. 10.18 billion between mid-July and mid-November.