Agricultural land in Karnali Province decreased by 6.08 per cent

Kathmandu, Nov 21: The agrarian land in Karnali Province has declined by 6.08 per cent. As per a study carried out by the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), the agricultural land has decreased by 6.08 per cent in the last fiscal year as compared to previous fiscal year. 

In the review year, among the main crops, the area covered by paddy, maize, wheat, millet and barley has decreased by 5.11 per cent, 4.16 per cent, 4.86 per cent, 11.52 per cent and 1.39 per cent respectively.

Likewise, the area covered by vegetables and horticulture crops has decreased by 14.91 per cent. However, the area covered by fruits has increased by 2.40 per cent. 

Similarly, the overall agriculture production has decreased by 5.1 per cent in Karnali in the review year as compared to previous fiscal year. 

The production of food, cash crops and other crops has declined by 3.95 per cent while paddy production has decreased by 10.25 per cent, wheat by 17.31 per cent, millet by 22.92 per cent and barley by 8.55 per cent. However, maize production has increased by 4.24 per cent during the review period. 

Vegetable and fruit production has declined by 0.88 per cent and 36.41 per cent in the last fiscal year 2081/82. 

In review year, loan provided by banks and financial institution at overall agriculture sector in Karnali province has accounted for 8.02 per cent of the total loan, declining by 7.70 per cent as compared to previous year.

In the review year, industries within the sample selection in the province achieved an average capacity utilization rate of 46.52 per cent. The highest capacity utilization was recorded in the electric wires and cables sector at 90 per cent, while the carpet-producing industries reported the lowest at 23.08 per cent. 

Additionally, industrial loans saw a decline of 1.94 per cent compared to the previous year. In Karnali Province, these loans represented 6.50 per cent of the total loans disbursed. 

Furthermore, the number of tourists visiting the province rose by 1.72 per cent during the review year. However, there was a notable decrease in tourists arriving from India and China, with declines of 23.85 per cent and 25.77 per cent respectively. On the contrary, tourists from third countries increased by 9.13 per cent. 

In terms of financial distribution, 85.47 per cent of the total loans disbursed by banks and financial institutions in the province were allocated to the service sector. 

The review year also saw the number of commercial bank and financial institution branches in the province reached 475, alongside 18 branchless banking units. The loan to deposit ratio for the province stood at 66.85 per cent. 

According to the Karnali Province Regional Office of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), the electricity transmission lines in the province extended to 3,575.74 circuit kilometers in the fiscal year 2081/82. 

Moreover, construction activities for the Pushpalal Highway, Karnali Corridor, Madan Bhandari Highway, and Bheri Babai Diversion Multipurpose Project appear to be accelerating in Karnali Province. (RSS)