Mustard production on the decline in Chitwan

Chitwan, March 15: Mustard production has reported to have decrease in the district. There has also been a decrease in productivity per hectare this year compared to last year, according to Nirmal Poudel, agricultural economist at the Agricultural Development Office.

The productivity per hectare was 1.31 metric tons last year but this year it has dropped to 1.01 metric tons. Last year, 18,565 metric tons of mustard was produced in the district while this year 14,315 metric tons have been produced.

Mustard is being cultivated in an area of 14,173 hectares in the district. The main reason for the decrease in mustard production is unseasonal rain, which forced many farmers to plant mustard seedlings for the second time. Fog and frost during the flowering period has also contributed to the decline in production and productivity.

Chitwan is one of the major mustard producing districts of the country. The number of farmers opting for mustard farming has increased in the district in the recent past years. (RSS)