Due to heavy rainfall from November 1 to November 3 caused by the ‘Montha Cyclone’, paddy and vegetable crops were damaged in various districts of Koshi Province, resulting in losses exceeding Rs 2,05,00,00,000. According to data released by the Koshi Province Government and the Provincial Agriculture Development Directorate, Biratnagar, the cyclone caused over Rs 2,00,00,00,000 in damage to paddy and vegetable farming in the province.
According to the Directorate of Agriculture Development, crops planted over an area of 12,632 hectares in the province were damaged, resulting in the destruction of 58,267 metric tons of paddy and vegetables. Purnamaya Gurung, Information Officer at the Directorate, stated that due to heavy rainfall caused by the Montha Cyclone, data collection shows that paddy and vegetable farming in various districts of Koshi Province suffered losses amounting to Rs 2,05,54,36,790. The Directorate further noted that although large areas of paddy crops were damaged, farmers are not eligible for compensation because they had not insured their crops. Approximately 20% of the paddy that had been harvested and left to dry was flattened, with 25 to 30% of it damaged. Similarly, in the districts of hilly area, eight to ten percent of the paddy was flattened, resulting in about 25% damage, and in the mountain districts, five to six percent of the paddy was flattened, also causing approximately 25% damage.
According to Manoj Adhikari, INSEC representative in Jhapa, the highest damage in the district occurred to food crops, vegetables, and banana plantations. Due to floods following the heavy rainfall, banana cultivation in Bhadreshi Rural Municipality suffered significant losses.In the district, 21,820 metric tons of paddy planted over an area of 4,364 hectares were destroyed, resulting in an estimated loss of Rs 78,11,56,000. In some local levels of the district, paddy crops that were ready for harvest were also flattened and destroyed.
According to Binod Subedi, INSEC representative in Morang, the floods flattened paddy fields, including those in the flowering and harvest-ready stages, causing losses worth millions of rupees in Morang. In the district, 16,420 metric tons of paddy planted over 3,421 hectares were damaged, resulting in estimated losses of Rs 58,78,64,000. The Agriculture Knowledge Center, Morang reported that in the northern parts of Letang, Miklajung, Kerabari, Kanepokhari, and Belbari, the damage due to rainfall was relatively low. According to Dipa Dev, Chief of the Agriculture Knowledge Center, about 15% of the paddy that was ready for harvest was completely flattened, 10% partially flattened, and 5% of the harvested paddy spoiled after ripening. Out of 17 local levels in the district, 12 local levels experienced destruction of paddy crops that were in the harvest-ready stage due to the rainfall.
According to Jaya Krishna Yadav, INSEC representative in Sunsari, 12,658 metric tons of paddy planted over 2,851 hectares were destroyed, resulting in losses of Rs 45,31,72,000. Additionally, vegetable crops planted over 200 hectares were destroyed, causing further losses of Rs 4,00,00,000. The Agriculture Knowledge Center reported that of the 458 hectares of millet cultivation in the district, approximately ten percent was damaged. Vegetables and seedlings such as cucumber, sponge gourd, beans, and similar vegetables were also destroyed due to heavy rainfall. Out of 530 hectares of banana cultivation in the district, 80% was destroyed by the rainfall. The highest damage to paddy, banana, and vegetable farming occurred in Dewanganj, Ramdhuni, Koshi, Inaruwa, and Bhokraha Narsingha Rural Municipalities.
According to Ishwar Thapa, INSEC representative in Dhankuta, the Montha Cyclone caused losses of over Rs 41,68,00,000 to paddy and millet crops in the district. The Agriculture Knowledge Center, Dhankuta reported that continuous rainfall from October 29 to November 17 caused extensive damage to paddy and millet crops across the district. In total, 12,415 metric tons of paddy planted over an area of 2,595.6 hectares were damaged. In Dhankuta, the Montha Cyclone caused a total loss of Rs 41,68,34,240 across 2,609 hectares, affecting 12,444 metric tons of crops. Paddy losses alone amounted to Rs 41,52,99,000, including 4,530.24 metric tons already harvested, 7,793.52 metric tons ripe but not yet harvested, 4.8 metric tons of young flattened paddy, and 86.4 metric tons of unripe green paddy. Millet crops planted over 13.35 hectares, totaling 30.07 metric tons, were also damaged, resulting in a loss of Rs 15,35,240.
According to Ganesh Bista, INSEC representative in Bhojpur, heavy and continuous rainfall has damaged paddy crops over 18,000 hectares across all nine local levels of the district, including Bhojpur Municipality, Shadananda, Hatuwagadhi, Arun, and Pouwadungma Rural Municipalities. Floods have washed away crops in some areas, while others remain submerged in waterlogged fields. Farmers like Dhanbahadur Thapa of Bokhim and Ram Bahadur Dahal of Arun Rural Municipality reported that paddy, including crops ready for harvest, was completely destroyed, leaving them deeply concerned. The Agriculture Knowledge Center, Bhojpur, confirms that the district normally cultivates paddy over this extensive area.
According to Rakesh Nepali, INSEC representative in Udayapur, 25% of the 323 hectares of paddy fields in the district were damaged due to rain and strong winds. Farmer Jaharman Danuwar,60, from Triyuga Municipality–9 complained that paddy planted on one bigha of land was destroyed by water, leaving him without enough rice for the year. Mahesh Kumar Chaudhary, Head of the Agriculture Knowledge Center, Udayapur, confirmed that 25% of the paddy fields in the district were affected. The center also reported that the damage to paddy, fish farming, and seasonal vegetable crops has resulted in losses worth crores of rupees.
According to Rajkumar Bhattarai, INSEC representative in Khotang, the Montha Cyclone caused damage to eight percent of the paddy fields in the district, as reported by the Agriculture Knowledge Center, Khotang. This year, paddy was cultivated over 13,516 hectares, of which eight percent of the area suffered losses due to heavy rainfall.
According to Saraswati Baniya, INSEC representative in Okhaldhunga, the Montha Cyclone damaged crops including paddy, buckwheat, and millet across 2,293 hectares in the district. Damage occurred to crops that were ready for harvest in all eight local levels. According to data collected by the Agriculture Knowledge Center through local agricultural offices, of the 4,403 hectares of paddy, 880 hectares were damaged; of 7,751 hectares of millet, 1,395 hectares were damaged; and of 93 hectares of buckwheat, 18 hectares were affected.
According to Bhabin Karki, INSEC representative in Sankhuwasabha, the Montha Cyclone destroyed paddy cultivation on 125 hectares in the district. The cyclone damaged both paddy and millet crops, including paddy that was ready for harvest. Farmers in the district have expressed concerns that the destruction of their crops could lead to food shortages and hunger.
According to Anju Karki, INSEC representative in Solukhumbu, the Montha Cyclone caused damage to paddy and millet crops in most areas, and the Agriculture Knowledge Center estimates a ten percent decline in production this year. Paddy is mainly cultivated in the lower areas of Nechasalyan, Thulung Dudhkoshi, and Sotang, and it serves as the primary source of income for farmers. However, due to the cyclone destroying crops, farmers in Nechasalyan Rural Municipality have expressed concern about potential food shortages and hunger. In the mid-hill areas, millet is the main cereal crop. Wind and heavy rainfall damaged millet crops, creating difficulties for households, according to Basudev Khatri, a farmer from Thulung Dudhkoshi Rural Municipality-7. Last year, the district produced 2,830 metric tons of millet over 2,105 hectares, but this year the Agriculture Knowledge Center projects a decline of more than ten percent in production.
Koshi Province Office