Agriculture ministry projects 8.39% growth in paddy production

Published On: December 25, 2018 08:22 AM NPT By: Republica | @RepublicaNepal

Photo: Bijaya Rai/ Republica Files

KATHMANDU, Dec 25: A recent preliminary data of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has projected more than 8 percent growth in the country’s paddy production.

The report based on provincial production figures, received by Republica, shows that the average growth of paddy production in the country is likely to grow by 8.39 percent in the current fiscal year to 5.5 million tons. As per the monitoring, evaluation and statistics division of the ministry, the growth projection ranges from 1.39 percent to 16.27 percent in different provinces.

In Province 1, paddy production has been projected to grow by 10.37 percent, from 1.1 million tons in FY2017/18 to 1.2 million tons in FY2018/19. Likewise, paddy production of Province 2 has been projected to grow by 16.27 percent, increasing from 1.2 million tons in FY2017/18 to 1.4 million tons in FY2018/19. In Province 3, the production growth has been projected at 3.62 percent, increasing from 503,238 tons to 521,446 tons.

Similarly, with a projected growth of 2.34 percent, paddy production in Gandaki province is likely to increase from 417,928 tons in FY2017/18 to 427,689 tons in FY2018/18.

The production of Province 5 has been projected to increase by 58,706 tons, or 5.24 percent, in FY2018/19. Likewise, for Karnali province, the figure has been projected to grow by 1.39 percent from 131,746 tons in FY2017/18 to 133,579 tons in FY2018/19, and for Sudurpaschim province, it has been projected to grow by 3.31 percent from 584,433 tons in FY2017/18 to 603,777 tons in FY2018/19.

The data has further showed that area of paddy plantation in Gandaki, Karnali and Province 5 has shrunk in the current fiscal year. In other provinces the area has grown by 1.37 percent on average this year.

New inputs and technology applied to paddy farming has brought about positive changes in paddy plantation and production this year, according to Ram Kumar Regmi, an official at the ministry’s monitoring, evaluation and statistics division.

“Due to improved climate, inputs, and technology in plantation, we have seen positive growth in paddy production. We expect it to grow by 10 percent in the coming five years,” Regmi told Republica.