Paddy production likely to increase by 15% in Banke

By Siraj Khan,Nepalgunj, Oct. 25: Agricultural Knowledge Centre, Banke has estimated that paddy production will increase by 15 per cent in the Banke district this year.

Binod Ghimire, chief of Agricultural Knowledge Centre, Banke, said that this year, as the weather has been favourable in the district since the beginning of plantation and there has been no loss of rice due to floods, it is estimated that the production of rice will increase by 15 per cent.

He said that more than 150,000 tonnes of rice will be produced in the district this year.

Stating that most of the farmers in the district are currently busy for harvesting paddy, he said that it will take some time to get all the production data.

Ghimire said, "This time, when we reach the field, the farmers seem excited; the yield of rice is also good."

According to AKC, paddy had been planted in 35,000 hectares of land in the district this year. 

It is estimated that at least 4.3 tonnes of rice will be produced per hectare this year. 

According to this, more than 150,500 tonnes of rice will be produced in Banke district this year.

Hareram Chaudhary, a resident of Raptisonari Rural Municipality-4, Baijapur in the district, said that the production of paddy will increase by 15 per cent this year compared to last year. 

He said that due to timely rains and plantation, the production of paddy is sure to increase.

The farmers are very happy after seeing the increase in production. Most of the farmers of the district have also demanded that the government fix the minimum support price of rice and purchase paddy in time.

They have complained that when the government delayed the purchase of paddy, the farmers were forced to sell the produce to the traders at a low price.