Government Declares All Eight Districts of Madhes Province as Crisis-Affected Areas

Kathmandu The government has declared all eight districts of Madhes Province as disaster-affected areas. This decision was made by the Council of Ministers on the proposal of Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak.

Due to drought in these eight districts, there is a severe crisis in drinking water, irrigation, and agriculture, which led the government to declare the entire province as a crisis-affected area. Even though Madhes and the Terai region are known as Nepal’s “grain basket,” by the end of Asar (mid-July), less than half of the paddy planting has been completed. Agricultural experts have expressed concern that this situation could lead to a major food crisis in Nepal.

Meanwhile, Ministers and Secretary Set for Foreign Visits

Despite the ongoing crisis, the Council of Ministers also approved foreign visits for the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Development and the Secretary of Agriculture.

Agriculture Minister Ram Nath Adhikari is scheduled to visit Ethiopia on 12–13 Saun (July 27–28) to participate in the Second United Nations Food Systems Summit Stocktake. Similarly, Agriculture Secretary Dr. Govinda Sharma is set to visit China from 8–10 Saun (July 23–25) to attend the 2025 International Conference on Reducing Food Loss and Waste in Shandong Province, China.

The Cabinet approved both trips in its meeting on 4 Saun (July 19).