Opinion | Farmers face dire consequences as floods devastate Nepal’s harvest
Summary
Floods in Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading have devastated paddy harvests, livestock and farmland, deepening losses for smallholder farmers and threatening Nepal’s food security. The article calls for stronger resilience measures, insurance, cooperatives and land support before the next disaster strikes.
Key Points
- Floods on August 26 hit farmers in Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading as paddy crops were nearing harvest, leaving many with severe losses.
- The disaster destroyed farmland, swept away livestock and displaced families, with some communities still searching for missing relatives and sheltering in temporary camps.
- The piece argues Nepal must build farmer resilience through insurance, affordable credit, cooperatives, early-warning systems and better government policy.
- It warns that repeated climate shocks could push more farming households out of agriculture and increase Nepal’s dependence on food imports.
