SIRAHA: Unseasonal rainfall caused by Cyclone Montha has damaged paddy crops on more than 10,000 hectares of land across Siraha district.
According to an initial report compiled by the agriculture sections of eight municipalities and nine rural municipalities, paddy cultivated on 10,728 hectares was affected by the heavy rainfall.
Lahan Municipality suffered the worst damage, with crops on 2,232 hectares destroyed, followed by Aurahi and Naraha municipalities.
Prakash Sah, Chief of the Agriculture Section at Lahan Municipality, said farmers had planted improved rice varieties, including drought-resistant strains and even Basmati rice, aiming for better prices.
However, the unseasonal rains and storm caused seeds to rot and plants nearing harvest to collapse, significantly reducing expected production.
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