Paddy plantation has been done in 97.89 per cent of total paddy filed throughout the country this year, thanks to regular and timely rainfall.
According to the statistics of the Department of Agriculture under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, paddy plantation has been completed in about 1.342 million hectares of total 1.371 million hectares of paddy field this year.
Paddy plantation area this year has slightly decreased by 0.3 per cent compared to last year. Paddy was planted in 98.19 per cent of paddy field last year.
The timely and regular rainfall contributed to achieve this progress in paddy plantation this year too, said Dr. Mahadev Prasad Paudel, senior agriculture economist and information officer at the Department.
He said that the paddy plantation has declined in Province 2 this year compared to last year. However, the plantation has increased in other provinces this year than last year.
There are few districts of Province 2 such as Dhanusha, Bara and Rautahat where plantation is comparatively lower than other districts due to excess rain, he said.
The paddy plantation has reached only 92 per cent in Rautahat, 95 per cent in Dhanusha and Bara till date. He said that paddy plantation in these districts might be increased if stopped the rainfall.
Paddy plantation has completed in 99.50 per cent in Taplejung, 98 per cent in Sankhuwasabha, 100 per cent in Solukhumbu, 94 per cent in Panchthar, 91 per cent in Ilam, 90 per cent in Bhojpur, 91 per cent in Tehrathum, 88 per cent in Dhankuta, 97 per cent in Udayapur, 100 per cent in Okhaldhunga and Khotang and 98 per cent in Jhapa.
The data shows that around 98.11 per cent (47,283 hectares) plantation has been completed in the mountain region, 97.19 per cent (336378 hectares) in the hilly region and 98.13 per cent (959,158 hectares) in the Terai region, he said.
Out of the total 1,371,706 hectares paddy field, around 48,193 hectares in mountain region, 346,099 hectares in hilly region and 977,414 hectares of land is used for paddy cultivation.
Province wise, paddy plantation in Karnali has completed in entire paddy field of 38,385 hectares.
Likewise, paddy plantation has been completed at around 99.06 per cent (163,097 hectares) in Sudurpaschhim Province and 98.95 per cent (300,392 hectares) in Lumbini Province.
Paddy plantation has been completed in 98.64 per cent (106,810 hectares) in Gandaki Province, 98.08 per cent (113,082 hectares) in Bagmati Province, 96.83 per cent (267,149 hectares) in Province 1 and 96.80 per cent (353,902 hectares) in Province 2.
Paudel expressed his hope that timely plantation would help increase production as well.
Last year, about 5.621 million tonnes of paddy was produced across the country.
Source : TRN,
