Farmers cutting cultivation of chaite paddy in lack of irrigation

By Nabin Raj Kuinkel,Lamjung, Apr. 8: The cultivation of chaite paddy has been declining in Lamjung over the years as compared to the past.

Although chaite paddy was cultivated in 6,000 hectares of land in the past, today it is being cultivated hardly on 100 hectares.

According to the Agricultural Knowledge Centre, Lamjung, chaite paddy cultivation is decreasing due to the lack of adequate irrigation facilities and difficulty to find of workers. 

Sudip Khatiwada, chief of the Agricultural Knowledge Centre, said that farmers are cutting chaite paddy cultivation due to the lack of irrigation during the rice planting period and facing huge losses caused by unfavourable weather during the harvesting period.

“The statistics of the cultivation of chaite paddy are not maintained, but we have found that much less cultivation has been done compared to the past,” Khatiwada said. “Chaite paddy cultivation should also be increased from the perspective of food security. Farmers need encouragement and support.”

Farmers have planted chaite paddy in some places where irrigation facilities are available. The plantation of chaite paddy has started in the district from the first week of April. 

The chaite paddy is cultivated in Dhamilikuwa, Chakratirtha, Bhalayakharka of Rainas Municipality in Lamjung, Bhorletar, Ishaneshwor, Karapu of Madhyanepal Municipality, and Duradanda, Sundarbazar, Marsyangdi and Dordi of Sundarbazar Municipality.

Agricultural technicians said that farmers are reducing paddy cultivation as income from other cash crops is higher. 

Instead of paddy, farmers have started growing vegetables, potatoes, and melons as cash crops, Khatiwada said.

There is 45,050 hectares of arable land in Lamjung. Of this, only 16,000 hectares are used for paddy cultivation. 

Khatiwada said that paddy cultivation can be expanded to an additional 16,769 hectares if irrigation arrangements are made.