Gandaki Province records 15 percent paddy plantation

Gandaki, June 29: So far, the Gandaki Province has recorded 15 percent paddy plantation. With the onset of active monsoon, farmers are engrossed on rice plantation.     

The Province Agriculture Development Directorate has estimated 98,000 hectares of land as cultivable for this year, according to Directorate Chief Basudev Regmi.     

In the last week alone, the province had eight percent rice plantation. "Most of the areas will complete rice plantation within end of Asar (mid July). Irrigation and fertilizers are available this time," he added.     

Out of total 479,617 hectares of arable land, nearly 100 thousand hectares is used for rice cultivation in the rainy season in this province every year, Regmi shared.     

Nine districts except Manang and Mustang cultivate rice in the province. Mostly, it is cultivated in Nawalpur, Kaski, Gorkha, Syangja and Tanahu.     

Even the pocket areas are declared in various districts for paddy plantation. For example, Chhewetar, Palungtar, Arughat and Siranchowk are such areas in Gorkha, while Dhamilikuwa, Harrabot, Bhorletar, Karapurtar are the pocket areas of Lamjung.     

In Kaski, major areas for paddy plantation are Pame, Lekhnath, Handikhola and Makaikhola.     

The species of rice the Gandaki farmers are producing ramdhan, jethobudho, khumal, ekle, gauriya, mansuli etc.     

The Directorate informed that the areas for paddy plantation is depleting every year in Gandaki Province. Fragmentation of land with plotting for construction of infrastructures and urbanization are causing fast reduction of arable land.(RSS)