Nearly nine months after devastating floods and landslides hit Kavre in October last year, the government has recommended a mere Rs. 7.77 million in relief for 359 affected farmers—despite damages amounting to nearly Rs. 1 billion in the district’s agriculture sector.
According to the Agriculture and Livestock Services Office, crops and livestock suffered losses totaling Rs. 902.78 million. Out of this, Rs. 566.1 million was recorded in crop and vegetable farming alone, while Rs. 336.68 million was lost in animal husbandry. Yet, only 359 farmers have been shortlisted to receive relief, each set to receive a small portion based on damage type and area affected.
Relief Recommendation and Process
The Kavre Agriculture Development Office, led by Chief Kulprasad Dawadi, stated that data was collected from the affected local municipalities. Relief amounts were calculated based on specific damage rates:
- Rs. 1,500 per ropani for staple crops (rice, maize)
- Rs. 2,500 per ropani for vegetables
- Rs. 5,000 per ropani for fruit crops
- Rs. 140 per square meter for damaged tunnels (greenhouses)
In total, 359 farmers across various municipalities claimed losses to:
- 2,030 ropanis of grain crops
- 405 ropanis of vegetables
- 705 ropanis of fruits
- 1,380 square meters of tunnel structures
Relief funds will be directly deposited into the farmers’ bank accounts to minimize misuse, according to Dawadi. The proposal has been sent to the Bagmati Province Ministry for final approval.
Livestock Losses Still Under Review
The District Livestock Office, led by Srija Wagle, is still compiling documentation for animal-related losses. So far, 65 applications have been collected and more are expected. Preliminary estimates suggest that over 2,200 animals and 15,495 poultry birds were lost, along with 3.2 million liters of milk—totaling over Rs. 336.68 million in damages.
Previous Emergency Assistance
Earlier, the World Food Programme (WFP) had provided emergency cash assistance to 2,640 families in the hardest-hit areas:
- Rs. 15,000 for families with up to 5 members
- Rs. 20,000 for larger families
The relief fund totaled Rs. 42.3 million and was distributed in:
- Bethanchowk: 235 households
- Roshi: 1,219 households
- Temal: 1,186 households
Despite these steps, many farmers and local leaders are calling the current relief inadequate. Out of 369 applicants, 10 were rejected due to insufficient documentation, and the selection committee said they will re-inspect those cases before making final decisions.
The glaring gap between total losses and actual relief disbursed raises concerns over disaster response, resource allocation, and long-term agricultural recovery. With monsoon season underway again, affected farmers fear a repeat of last year’s devastation without adequate support.
