The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said Thursday that Nepal may be at risk of a food crisis following the devastating earthquake that struck the country on April 25.

The quake has left 3.5 million people in need of food assistance and might prevent farmers in affected areas from planting rice - Nepal's staple food - until late 2016, thus jeopardizing their incomes and national food supplies, the Rome-based agency warned.

"There is a critical window of opportunity to help crop producers plant in time to have a rice harvest this year and regain their self-sufficiency," said Somsak Pipoppinyo, FAO Representative in Nepal.

"At the same time, we need to do all we can to preserve vital livestock assets which provide affected families with much needed income and nutrition," he added. According to FAO, two-third of Nepalese rely on agriculture for their livelihood.

FAO said 8 million dollars are "urgently needed" to help Nepalese farmers. They are part of the 415-million-dollar emergency funding appeal that UN agencies and partners have launched for post-quake assistance.