KATHMANDU, Jan 19: Paddy production has declined by 4 percent this year.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, there has been a drop in production, cultivated area, and productivity across all three indicators.
Based on preliminary estimates, Nepal’s paddy production this year is projected to reach 5,505,126 tonnes, which is 4.20 percent lower than last year.
Paddy production expected to increase by 4.4 percent
Similarly, the area under paddy cultivation has been limited to 1,367,072 hectares, a 3.8 percent decrease compared to 1,420,636 hectares recorded last year.
The Ministry of Agriculture has identified multiple factors behind the decline in paddy production.
Among the key reasons, out-migration from hilly regions and the attraction of foreign employment have left arable land fallow, while drought conditions in the Madhesh region have also negatively affected production.
Additionally, land fragmentation due to migration in urban areas and the Tarai, along with industrial expansion and physical infrastructure development, has further reduced cultivated area.
Despite adequate availability of improved seeds and fertilizers, productivity declined due to adverse weather conditions, the ministry said.
The paddy production data for this year has been prepared using scientific methods, officials claimed.
With agriculture contributing around 24.16 percent to Nepal’s GDP and paddy alone accounting for 12 percent, the decline in paddy production is expected to have a significant impact on the national economy.
