SAPTARI, July 18: Continuous rainfall has inundated some 4,000 hectares of paddy crop in Saptari and Siraha districts. The rainfall that began soon after the paddy plantation has submerged around 2,000 hectares each in the two districts, according to the Agriculture Knowledge Centre, Rajbiraj.
The two districts had recorded the completion of 90 to 95 percent of paddy plantation this year. However, a significant area now remains submerged in rainwater.
Paddy transplantation lower in eastern tarai
Paddy fields in Tilathi Koiladi, Chhinnamasta, Rajgadh, Bishnupur, Balan Bihul rural municipalities and Hanumannagar, Kankalini, Dakanewswar and Saptari municipalities have been inundated.
Likewise, in Siraha, flood waters from the Kamala and Mainawati rivers have submerged paddy fields in Bhagwanpur, Nawarajpur, Bariyapatti, Aurahi, Siraha and other areas along the Nepal-India border region.
The paddy crop could survive if there is no additional rainfall but continuous rainfall will lead to the growing of rotten grains, said agro economist at the centre, Kishan Raut. Paddy has been cultivated in 62,800 hectares of land in Saptari and 54,000 hectares in Siraha.
