“We have estimated that around 153,400 tons of paddy would be lost as 76,706 hectares of paddy fields have been left unplanted this year,” Dr Hari Dahal, spokesperson of MoAC, told Republica on Tuesday. Dahal said the impact of late plantation and attacks of diseases and pests as well as disruption in irrigation during post plantation period would also affect paddy production.
According to MoAC, paddy plantation has been recorded in 1.47 million hectares out of the total 1.55 hectares of total paddy fields across the country. Last year, paddy production had dropped by around 200,000 tons as plantation had become possible only 94 percent of paddy fields then.
“Late monsoon with erratic rainfall and proper functioning of irrigation canals are the major reasons behind low plantation this year,” Dr Dahal said.
Paddy plantation is high hills, hills and Tarai districts have been recorded at 99 percent, 98 percent and 93 percent respectively. Three major paddy producing districts -Siraha, Saptari and Dhanusha -- have reported lowest plantation this year with plantation in 75 percent, 52 percent and 85 percent of the total paddy fields respectively.
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