53% paddy plantation complete nationwide, weak and late monsoon affects plantation

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, July 16: Paddy plantation has completed in 53 per cent of the total paddy fields across the country as of Friday (July 14, 2023).

According to the statistics of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, paddy plantation has been completed in 718,476 hectares out of 1.357 million hectares of paddy fields.

According to the Ministry, this year’s plantation is 12 per cent less than the same period last year. The paddy plantation was completed at about 63 per cent during the same period last year.

However, paddy plantation has improved over a week’s period. The paddy plantation has completed in additional 355,851 hectares of land within a week. Paddy plantation was completed in only 27 per cent (362,625 hectares of land) by last Thursday.

By now, paddy plantation has completed in the largest area of paddy field in Sudurpashchim Province followed by Karnali and Lumbini Province. 

In Sudurpashchim Province, paddy plantation was completed in 85 per cent (145,755 hectares) while 70 per cent (27,109 hectares) in Karnali and 64 per cent (192,251 hectares) in Lumbini Province by Friday.

Similarly, paddy plantation has completed in 56 per cent (154,074 hectares) fields in Koshi Province, 47 per cent (49,172 hectares) in Gandaki and 45 per cent (50,887 hectares) of the total paddy fields in Bagmati Province till date.

Likewise, the lowest paddy plantation has been done in Madhes Province where plantation has completed only in 28 per cent (99,227 hectares) of the total paddy fields of 354,383 hectares.

Paddy is grown in around 171,476 hectares in Sudurpashchim Province, 17,435 hectares in Karnali Province and 275,133 hectares in Koshi Province.

Paddy is grown in around 113,083 hectares in Bagmati Province, 300,392 hectares in Limbini Province and 104,622 hectares in Gandaki Province.

In the same period last year, paddy plantation was completed in 87 per cent in Sudurpashchim Province, 56 per cent in Karnali, 75 per cent in Lumbini, 79 per cent in Gandaki, 65 per cent in Bagmati, 57 per cent in Madhes and 49 per cent in Koshi Province.

According to the Ministry, due to delay in the onset of monsoon, especially in Madhes, Koshi and Bagmati Province, there is slow progress this year.

It has been reported that due to lumpy skin disease in the Karnali and Sudurpashchim provinces, there is a shortage of cattle and the planting has been slightly affected, read the press statement of the Ministry.

The Ministry expected that the pace of paddy planting would gradually increase as the monsoon becomes more active, the availability of chemical fertilisers is ensured and the effect of lumpy skin disease is reduced.