KATHMANDU, June 30: Paddy plantation has been completed in 27.12 percent of the paddyfields across the country as of Tuesday, the day that marked the 18th National Paddy Day.
According to the Department of Agriculture, farmers have planted paddy in 371,958 hectares out of 1.371 million hectares of land used for rice production. In Nepal, paddy plantation starts with the commencement of June, which lasts till mid-August and harvested in November. As monsoon is the lifeblood of paddy harvest, it is the peak time for the transplantation of the crop.
Plantation completed in 50% of paddy fields in 14 districts
Karnali Province has observed 62.14 percent of paddy plantation, the highest among the seven provinces, as of Tuesday. Sudurpaschim has so far planted paddy in 48.31 percent of its paddyfields, followed by Lumbini Province (45.94 percent), Bagmati Province (21.07 percent), Province 1 (17.99 percent), Gandaki Province (15.34 percent) and Province 2 with paddy plantation in 10.55 percent of their total land area fit for rice cultivation.
The department’s records show that paddy plantation as of June end this year is less than that of the same period last year. By June end last year, farmers had planted 35.48 percent of the paddy acreage.
