Paddy planting 86 percent complete

KATHMANDU, Aug 7: Continued rainfall for a couple of weeks has taken total paddy plantings across the country to 1.34 million hectares, which is 86 percent of the total paddy acreage.



Officials at the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MoAC) said paddy plantings would be completed by the end of next week if the downpour continues throughout the country. [break]



"It is encouraging to see rapid progress in paddy plantings due to active monsoon. Plantings would be completed in most of the districts if heavy rainfall continues for next week," said Hem Raj Regmi, under secretary at MoAC.



Despite rapid progress in plantings, the eastern and central regions -- major paddy producing regions -- have reported lowest plantings among the regions.



The MoAC stated that by Friday, plantings in the eastern and central regions have been recorded at 78 percent and 84 percent respectively, which is lower than the national average of 86 percent. Paddy acreage in country stands at 1.55 million hectares.



Plantings in the mountains, hills and the Tarai crossed 91 percent, 90 percent and 83 percent respectively with paddy planted areas touching 58,667 hectares, 350,491 hectares and 912,305 hectares.



Till the end of July, average plantings across the country was 77 percent or 1.19 million hectares. Tarai belt, the granary of the country, had reported 73 percent followed by 85 percent in the hills and 87 percent in the mountains.



Plantings in the Far-western Development Region has touched 98 percent which is the highest among the five development regions.



Similarly, plantings in the Western and Mid-Western regions reached to 95 percent and 91 percent respectively.



The MoAC´s latest report shows that 18 districts -- Kalikot, Jumla, Humla, Mugu, Dolpa, Nawalparasi, Kaski, Lamjung, Bara, Kanchanpur, Dadeldhura, Darchula, Bajhang, Bajura, Salyan, Pyuthan, Rolpa and Rukum have reported cent percent plantings. Planting has completed in all mountain districts in the Far-western and Mid-western regions.



Eastern Tarai region is the lowest performing region with plantings being still below 72 percent by Friday. Saptari and Siraha in the eastern Tarai have reported only 42 percent and 40 percent plantings.



Planting Progress

Eastern region - 78 percent

Central region -  84 percent

Western region - 95 percent

Mid-Western region - 91 percent

Far-Western region - 98 percent

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