KATHMANDU, Aug 17: This year, about 98 percent of paddy transplantation has been completed across the country. The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development reported that approximately 1.4 million hectares of land is suitable for paddy cultivation, and paddy has been transplanted on about 1.372 million hectares of this land.
In the last fiscal year (FY) 2023/24, paddy had been transplanted on only about 90 percent of the arable land by July, but by July of the current FY 2024/2025, it has increased by eight percent. This year, due to favorable rainfall, paddy transplanting has been better. Mahanand Joshi, the information officer for the ministry, informed RSS that rice production is expected to increase this fiscal year.
Paddy production projected to drop to 5.15 million tons
According to him, 100 percent of paddy transplanting has been completed in Sudurpaschim Province, while in Koshi Province, less than 95 percent has been completed. In FY 2023/2024, Sudurpaschim recorded the highest percentage of paddy transplantation at 99 percent, while Madhesh Province the lowest at only 60 percent.
In the fiscal year 2023/24, imports of rice and paddy amounted to Rs 21.34 billion, compared to NPR 35.90 billion in the fiscal year 2022/23. Records from the Ministry show that the imports decreased by approximately Rs 13 billion in FY 2023/24 compared to the previous fiscal year.
Joshi, the information officer of the Ministry, informed RSS that with an expected increase in rice production by about six percent this year, imports are projected to decrease further.
