Paddy plantation reaches 86%

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, July 29: Paddy transplantation across the country has reached 86 per cent of the country's total cultivable paddy area as of Monday, marking a significant improvement over the 79 per cent recorded during the same period last year.

According to the Department of Agriculture under the Ministry of Agriculture, Forests and Environment, farmers have transplanted paddy on 1.17 million hectares out of the country's total paddy cultivation area of around 1.37 million hectares.

The pace of plantation has accelerated sharply over the past week, with coverage increasing by nearly 16 percentage points from around 70 per cent. 

The rapid progress has been attributed to favourable monsoon conditions and continuous rainfall across most parts of the country, enabling farmers to intensify plantation activities.

Among the provinces, Sudurpashchim has recorded the highest plantation rate, followed by Lumbini and Karnali.

Paddy transplantation in Sudurpashchim has reached 97.93 per cent of its total paddy cultivation area, with 151,742 hectares planted out of 154,950 hectares.

Lumbini Province has completed transplantation on 268,197 hectares, or 88.99 per cent of its total 301,372 hectares of paddy land. 

Similarly, Karnali has recorded 88.22 per cent transplantation, covering 38,189 hectares out of 43,290 hectares.

Bagmati Province has completed transplantation on 99,744 hectares, accounting for 87.09 per cent of its total 114,524 hectares of paddy fields.

In Koshi Province, farmers have transplanted paddy on 240,377 hectares, or 86.97 per cent of the province's 276,386 hectares of paddy land.

Gandaki Province has completed transplantation on 75,562 hectares, representing 80.72 per cent of its total 93,606 hectares under paddy cultivation.

Madhes Province continues to lag behind the national average, with transplantation completed on 300,580 hectares, or 77.88 per cent of its total 385,933 hectares of paddy fields.

Compared to the same period last year, rice planting has decreased in five provinces - Sudurpashchim, Karnali, Lumbini, Gandaki and Bagmati - as of July 27, while it has increased in Madhes and Koshi provinces.

As of July 27 last year, 98.94 per cent of paddy plantations had been completed in Sudurpaschim Province, 91.38 per cent in Karnali, 92.04 per cent in Lumbini, 84.53 per cent in Gandaki and 87.88 per cent in Bagmati.

Similarly, the paddy plantation had been completed in 51.82 per cent in Madhes and 80.39 per cent in Koshi Province.