KATHMANDU, Aug 22: Nearly 98 percent of paddy plantation has been completed across the country, according to the Department of Agriculture (DoA). The figure is 1.92 percentage points higher than last year.
According to data provided by the DoA, paddy has been planted on 1,341,764 hectares of land as of Saturday, out of a total cultivable area of 1.37 million hectares.
Plantation completed in 50% of paddy fields in 14 districts
Sudurpaschim Province has recorded the highest progress, with paddy plantation completed on 100 percent of the targeted area. Similarly, 98.5 percent has been completed in Karnali, 97.87 percent in Lumbini, 96.68 percent in Gandaki, 97.82 percent in Bagmati, 98.10 percent in Madhesh and 97 percent in Koshi.
Department Director General Prakash Kumar Sanjel said plantation was delayed this year, particularly in Madhesh Province and other areas, due to insufficient rainfall. However, he said the pace of plantation has improved in recent weeks.
According to Sanjel, farmers in most areas still rely heavily on monsoon rainfall for paddy plantation. However, with the monsoon proving favorable this year, the overall plantation situation is better than last year, which is expected to boost paddy production.
