KATHMANDU, Sept 14: The August 26 flash floods in the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli river system caused more than Rs 1 billion in damage to Nepal’s agricultural sector, with livestock and poultry alone suffering losses of Rs 1.11 billion.
According to the Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA) jointly prepared by the National Planning Commission and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), the floods severely affected paddy, vegetable and livestock production in several districts.
The disaster damaged paddy farming across 1,669 hectares, resulting in an estimated loss of 5,843 tonnes of paddy. Total crop losses have been estimated at Rs 1.09 billion (USD 7.22 million), including damage to standing crops and estimated effects on subsequent-season production.
Vegetable farming was also affected, with 137 hectares of land damaged and an estimated 1,843 tonnes of produce lost.
The affected local levels include Bidur, Likhu and Belkotgadhi in Nuwakot; Benighat Rorang, Gajuri, Siddhalek and Galchhi in Dhading; and Gandaki and Shahid Lakhan in Gorkha. In Rasuwa, paddy fields covering 140 hectares in Gosaikunda and 143 hectares in Uttargaya were also affected.
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Bidur in Nuwakot suffered the largest paddy loss, with 700 hectares of farmland affected and an estimated 2,450 tonnes of paddy production lost. Likhu reported damage to 230 hectares, with an estimated loss of 805 tonnes, while 200 hectares were affected in Belkotgadhi, resulting in a potential loss of 700 tonnes.
In Dhading, paddy farming was affected across 25 hectares in Benighat Rorang, 75 hectares in Gajuri, 58 hectares in Siddhalek and 87 hectares in Galchhi.
Bidur also recorded the largest vegetable crop losses, with 98 hectares affected and an estimated 1,323 tonnes of produce lost. In Dhading, vegetable farming was affected across nine hectares in Benighat Rorang, seven hectares in Gajuri, two hectares in Siddhalek and 14 hectares in Galchhi.
Livestock losses reach Rs 1.11 billion
The livestock and poultry sector suffered losses estimated at Rs 1.11 billion, affecting 252,445 animals and birds, according to the RDNA.
Poultry accounted for the largest number of affected animals and birds, with 214,827 birds affected. Although poultry represented 85.1 percent of the total number affected, poultry-related financial losses accounted for only 4.8 percent of total livestock losses.
Larger livestock suffered heavier financial losses. The loss of 4,572 buffaloes was estimated at Rs 457.2 million, or 41 percent of total livestock losses.
Losses involving goats and mountain goats (chyangra) amounted to Rs 391.3 million, or 35.1 percent, while losses involving cows and oxen stood at Rs 179.2 million, or 16.1 percent.
Other losses included Rs 10.4 million involving other animals, Rs 19.6 million involving pigs and wild boars, Rs 2.5 million involving sheep, Rs 53.7 million in poultry losses and around Rs 100,000 involving other birds.
Together, buffaloes, goats and mountain goats, and cows and oxen accounted for 92.3 percent of total livestock losses.
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