KATHMANDU, July 7: Paddy plantation has failed to gain momentum this year, with only 32.38 percent of rice fields sown by the first week of July.
Records with the Department of Agriculture show that out of 1.37 million hectares of rice fields across the country, plantation has been completed on just 443,595 hectares so far. During the same period last year, 45 percent of the total land area designated for rice cultivation had already been planted.
Province-wise, Sudurpaschim Province has recorded the most satisfactory progress. Out of 154,950 hectares of land for paddy cultivation, plantation has been completed on 89,742 hectares, accounting for 57.9 percent of the province’s rice fields. However, this figure is still lower than last year’s 82.8 percent.
Plantation completed in 50% of paddy fields in 14 districts
After Sudurpaschim, Gandaki Province has achieved 41 percent plantation. Paddy has been sown on 38,389 hectares out of 93,606 hectares of rice fields in the province. Similarly, in Karnali Province, plantation has been completed on 17,549 hectares out of 43,290 hectares, or 40.5 percent of the total area. Last year, the figures stood at 55.6 percent in Gandaki and 71.7 percent in Karnali.
In Lumbini Province, only 112,509 hectares out of 313,372 hectares have been sown, representing 37.3 percent of the total area. This is significantly lower than last year’s 52.1 percent. Bagmati Province has recorded plantation on 38,266 hectares out of 114,524 hectares, or 33.2 percent, compared to 51.9 percent last year.
Similarly, Koshi Province has seen plantation on 87,033 hectares out of 276,387 hectares, or 31.5 percent. This marks a slight improvement from last year’s 29.5 percent.
Madhesh Province, considered a major hub for rice production, has posted the weakest progress. Out of 385,933 hectares of rice fields, only 60,346 hectares have been planted — just 15.6 percent of the total area, the lowest among all provinces. Last year, plantation in Madhesh had reached 25.1 percent during the same period.
Fertilizer Distribution
The government has claimed that a total of 40,569.25 tons of chemical fertilizers were distributed to farmers across the country in the past 19 days.
Of the total, the Agricultural Input Company Limited supplied 26,994.65 tons, while the Salt Trading Corporation provided 13,574.6 tons.
The distribution included 23,482.4 tons of urea, 17,749 tons of DAP, and 2,337 tons of potash fertilizer. Officials said the quantity is expected to meet farmers’ demand for this rainy season.
