Maize cultivation expands in Morang as productivity rises

By Hari Prasad Koirala,Urlabari, Feb. 24: While candidates, leaders, and party workers have been busy with the House of Representatives election, the maize farmers of southern Morang have not been effected by it.

Farmers are currently applying fertiliser and irrigating early maize crops. 

In the past, farmers in southern Morang used to cultivate lentils, grass pea, and wheat. However, over the past three years, they have been increasingly attracted to maize farming. 

After being able to produce around 250 mans of maize per bigha with proper fertilisation and irrigation, farmers have become more interested in maize cultivation. 

Compared to pulses and wheat, maize farming is considered easier.

Binod Chandrabanshi of Titriban, Pathari Shanishchare Municipality–5, said, “I have planted maize on nine katthas of land. It requires irrigation three times. This is the third irrigation.”

As there is no permanent water source, he uses an electric motor for underground irrigation. 

He said, “The power supply gets cut frequently while pumping water. The voltage is insufficient. Last year there was a shortage of fertiliser. This year there is no fertiliser problem, but we do not get prices according to our investment.” 

He accused the leaders of any party of not listening to the voices of the farmers.

Farmers from six municipalities in southern Morang from Katahari to Ratuwamai have started cultivating maize in large quantities. 

Farmer Prahlad Kumar Yadav of Rangeli Municipality-7 said, “I have planted maize in one bigha of land." 

Last year, 200 mans were produced, this year I hope the production will be even better. Elections come and go. The work of irrigating maize is important for us,” said Yadav.

Narayan Prasad Sah of Rangeli Municipality-8, who has planted maize in two bighas, said, “The production of maize will be good. This year, it is expected to be more than 200 mans per bigha.” 

He said that his crops are a higher priority than elections. 

According to the Agriculture Knowledge Centre, Morang, maize was cultivated on 21,100 hectares of land in the fiscal year 2024/25. A total of 147,700 tonnes of maize was produced in that area.

According to the chief of the Agriculture Knowledge Centre, Deepa Dev, maize productivity in Morang has also increased. 

In fiscal year 2023/24, maize was cultivated on 20,452 hectares, producing 141,118 tonnes. 

Last year, productivity was 6.90 tonnes per hectare. This year, it has reached 7 tonnes per hectare.

Dev said that productivity will increase further if farmers are able to apply fertilisers and irrigation on time. 

In the fiscal year 2022/23, maize was cultivated on 20,052 hectares of land in Morang. That year, 132,343 tonnes of maize were produced. 

While three years ago, maize production was 6.60 tonnes per hectare, last year productivity increased by 0.40 percentage points to 7 tonnes per hectare.