SANGAM

Paddy sowing recorded at a meager 40pc

SANGAM PRASAIN
KATHMANDU, JUL 19 - With the rain god being more favourable this year, paddy plantation in the country has been recorded at 40 percent even with the main planting season in the Tarai yet to start.

The preliminary estimate of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MoAC) said that plantation this season had been good compared to the same period last year.

Dr. Hari Dahal, spokesperson at the MoAC, said that paddy plantation in the Tarai had just started, and in response to the current monsoon, the plantation rate would increase in the months of August and September.

Of the total 3.1 million hectares of arable land, paddy plantation occupies over 1.5 million hectares.

The Tarai, which is a major paddy producing region, has 71 percent of the total arable land. Similarly, the hill region has 25 percent and the high hill region a 4 percent share of the total arable land.

This plantation season, paddy plantation in Jhapa has been recorded at 33,600 hectares out of the total 96,161 hectares. Morang has recorded

over 31,000 hectares out of 88,000 hectares and Sunsari has recorded 25 percent out of its total 53,600 hectares, Dahal said.

Similarly, plantation in Siraha has been recorded at 10 percent of its total 70,000 hectares and Sarlahi with 12 percent of its total 68,000 hectares. Plantation in Kapilvastu, Rautahat and Dhanusha has been recorded at 10 percent, 15 percent and 20 percent respectively.

According to the ministry, paddy plantation in the Central Development Region has been recorded at 39 percent, 25 percent in the Eastern Development Region, 49 percent in the Western Development Region, 52 percent in

the Mid-Western Development Region and 48 the percent in Far-Western Development Region.

Plantation has been recorded at cent percent in Rolpa, Dolpa and Humla. The average paddy plantation in the Tarai, hills and high hills has been recorded at 33 percent, 57 percent and 62 percent respectively. The Kathmandu Valley

has recorded 80 percent paddy plantation.

Production of paddy declined by 11 percent last year due to a long drought that delayed paddy planting. Output dropped to 2,716 kg per hectare from 2,907 kg per hectare recorded last year.

Paddy plantation

Region Plantation %

Eastern 25

Central 39

Western 49

Mid-Western 52

Far-Western 48