'Mechanization of farms must to boost paddy output'

KATHMANDU, Jan 13: Experts have suggested the government to focus on increasing paddy production by mechanizing paddy farming so as to end the growing challenge of food deficit posed by increasing population and shrinking arable land.



They categorically indicated that rising population, climate change, water scarcity, land fragmentation, shortage of agriculture labors and low government investment in agriculture as the emerging challenges in increasing production and productivity of paddy - a major cereal crop contributing over 7.5 percent to GDP.[break]



According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives (MoAC), the country produced 4.46 million tons of paddy worth Rs 89 billion during fiscal year 2009/10.



“We have no alternative to increasing productivity of paddy to feed the growing population on the back of shrinking arable land due to rapid urbanization and other threats such as climate changes and water scarcity,” paddy expert Bhola Man Singh Basnet said at an interaction on paddy and food security.



He suggested the government to adopt improved irrigation system, mechanize farms, integrate modern technology and traditional know-how and mitigate impacts of climate change to increase paddy production.



Suraj Pokharel, director of Crop Development Directorate, suggested devising programs to increase production of maize along with paddy to ensure better food security.

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