Paddy production goes up in Bajura

By Sher Bahadur Sarki,Bajura, Nov. 13: Paddy production has increased in Bajura district. Compared to the last fiscal year, paddy production has risen by 758 metric tonnes this fiscal year.

Last year, the district had produced 17,500 metric tonnes of paddy, while this year’s production reached 18,258 metric tonnes, according to the Agriculture Knowledge Centre, Bajura.

In the fiscal year 2023/24 AD, the district had produced 16,565 metric tonnes of paddy. Comparing the past two years, the centre reported a significant improvement in output this year.

“The farmers here used to grow indigenous varieties of rice that gave lower yield despite larger areas of cultivation,” said Jasir Ram Sahani, Chief of the Agriculture Knowledge  

Centre, Bajura. 

“Now, with the promotion of high-yield varieties such as Ram Dhan, Jumli, Sabitri, Himali Dhan, and Khumal, paddy production has finally increased in the district,” he added.

Paddy cultivation is common in Himali, Jagannath, Swamikartik Khapar, Budhinanda, Badimalika, Gaumul, Budhiganga, Triveni, and Khaptad Chhededaha Rural Municipalities of Bajura. 

Local farmers usually plant paddy in mid-hills during Chaitra-Baisakh (March–May) and in lowlands during Jestha–Asar (May–July).

Out of Bajura’s 230,037 hectares of total land, only 22,000 hectares are cultivable. Paddy is cultivated on 6,915 hectares, and production covers 13,140 hectares of total cultivated area, with an average productivity of 1.9 metric tonnes per hectare, according to Sahani.