Paddy plantation limited only to 78% nationwide, down 14% from last year

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, July 29: Due to lack of sufficient rainfall and unanticipated drought in Madhes Province, the paddy plantation has been affected badly this year. 

As of Sunday (July 27), only 78 per cent of Nepal's total paddy fields have been planted across the country.

According to the Centre for Crop Development and Agro-Biodiversity Conservation under the Department of Agriculture, plantation has been done in 1,087,148 hectares (78.84 per cent) of the country’s total 1.38 million hectares of paddy fields.

The paddy plantation has been lower almost by 14 per cent by July 27 this year compared with the same period last year. The plantation had been completed in around 92.6 per cent of total paddy fields by July 27, 2024.

Lowest plantation in Madhes

The highest paddy plantation has been completed in Sudurpashchim Province while the Lumbini and Karnali Province stand second and third respectively in paddy plantation.

According to report, paddy has been planted almost in 99 per cent (174,286 hectares) of the total paddy fields in Sudurpashchim Province by July 27. Paddy is grown in around 176,151 hectares in the Sudurpashchim Province.

Similarly, paddy has been planted in 92.04 per cent (278,828 hectares) in Lumbini Province and 91.38 per cent (37,505 hectares) in Karnali Province. 

The paddy is cultivated in 302,939 hectares in Lumbini and 41,042 hectares in Karnali Province.

The paddy plantation remains the lowest in Madhes Province. The paddy plantation has been done only in 51.82 per cent (193,116 hectares) of the total paddy cultivation area of 372,645 hectares of land by Sunday.

Likewise, 87.19 per cent (101,606 hectares) paddy plantation has been completed in Bagmati Province and 84.53 per cent (79,613 hectares) in Gandaki Province.

The paddy is cultivated in 115,621 hectares in Bagmati Province and 94,182 hectares in Gandaki Province. 

The paddy plantation has been completed in around 80.39 per cent (222,192 hectares) of the paddy fields in Koshi Province. Paddy is cultivated in around 276,387 hectares in Koshi Province. 

According to the Centre, paddy plantation progress has decreased in all provinces, except Lumbini Province during the review period as compared to same period last fiscal year. 

Compared to the same period last year, the plantation in Madhes Province has dropped by over 40 percentage points, while plantation dropped by 10 percentage points in Koshi and 3 percentage points in Bagmati and 7 percentage points in Gandaki Provine.

Similarly, plantation has been lower almost by 1 percentage point in Sururpashchim Province and 7 percentage points in Karnali Province.

However, the plantation increased almost by 1 percentage point in Lumbin Province during the review period.

As of July 27 last year, 99.6 per cent of paddy plantation had been completed in Sudurpaschim Province, 98.6 per cent in Karnali, 91.3 per cent in Lumbini, 91.9 per cent in Gandaki, 90.8 per cent in Bagmati, 92 per cent in Madhes and 90.7 per cent in Koshi Province.