Following a hailstorm on Wednesday night, farmers in Wards 1, 2, and 7 of Triveni Municipality, Nepal, are facing significant losses, particularly in fruit and vegetable crops. While much attention has been given to the damaged wheat crop, local officials have confirmed that vegetables such as onions, potatoes, garlic, and coriander, along with fruit crops, have also suffered heavy damage.
Juddha Bahadur Ayadi, the ward chairman of Triveni Municipality-7, stated that the hailstorm caused widespread destruction to vegetable and fruit crops across the affected wards. "It's not just the wheat; our vegetables and fruits have taken a major hit," he said. "These crops are essential to the livelihood of many farmers here, and the damage is severe."
The storm, which was accompanied by heavy rain, struck key agricultural areas such as Bedugada, Danda Gada, and Dalit settlements. According to Ayadi, police and local representatives are currently visiting the affected areas to assess the extent of the damage. "The full scale of the loss will only be clear once we collect detailed information from each affected field," he added.
Assistant Inspector Madan Bista of the Toli Police Post confirmed that vegetable and fruit crops in Wards 1, 2, and 7 were significantly affected. He said that authorities plan to begin data collection on Friday to document the extent of losses caused by the hailstorm and heavy rains.
The destruction of vegetable and fruit crops has left farmers deeply concerned, as these were key sources of food and income leading into the upcoming rainy season. With entire harvests wiped out in some areas, local communities now face uncertainty over how they will sustain themselves in the months ahead.
Source: The Rising Nepal