Nepal floods damage 1,800 hectares of crops and kill thousands of livestock

In this interview, Beth Bechdol, FAO Deputy Director-General, outlines the impact of the floods on rural communities and the urgent path towards agricultural recovery

Beth Bechdol, FAO Deputy Director-General.

Rome – The devastating flash floods that swept through Nepal’s Bhote Koshi–Trishuli river corridor on 26 August 2026 have taken a heavy toll on communities, killing over 1000 people, forcing many to flee their homes and causing extensive damage to agriculture and rural livelihoods.

Preliminary assessments indicate that around 1,800 hectares of crops—mostly paddy—were damaged, while thousands of livestock were killed. Farmland, fisheries, food stocks and agricultural infrastructure were also affected, threatening the food security and incomes of farming families well beyond the immediate emergency.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is supporting the Government of Nepal’s response, including through emergency veterinary support and assessments of damage to agriculture and rural livelihoods.

In this interview, FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol discusses the impact of the floods on farmers and livestock producers, the most urgent agricultural needs and why restoring production ahead of the next planting season will be critical to recovery.

Q1. What has been the impact of the floods on people’s livelihoods?

BB: First of all, the human toll of the recent floods has been devastating. More than 1,000 people have lost their lives, thousands more remain unaccounted for, and entire communities have been affected.

But this disaster has also washed away the means by which many families feed themselves and earn an income.

Crops have been buried under mud and sediment. Fishponds have been swept away, and roads, bridges and markets have been damaged, disrupting the movement of food, animal feed, milk and other agricultural inputs.