SARLAHI, Nov 27: Rice production declined in Sarlahi this year due to lack of timely rainfall. According to the Agriculture Knowledge Centre in Sarlahi, the absence of timely rainfall adversely affected rice production this year. Crop diseases and pesticide-related issues were the other factors leading to the decline in rice production in Sarlahi.

Ruplal Chaudhary, a farmer from Jabdi in Lalbandi Municipality-3, said he was disappointed with the rice production this year. "Our hard work and investment did not pay off," he said, adding that  he spent Rs 10,000 alone for irrigation of paddy planted on six katha of land (one kattha is equivalent to 3,645 sq ft).

Last year, the district saw the production of 164,145 metric tons of rice. However, this year, farmers observed a significant decline, with production of around 38 kgs per land plot, compared to 95 kg last year.

The center's chief Devanand Ray Yadav said production was satisfactory in the areas where irrigation facility was available, whereas areas dependent on rainfall experienced a decline in production. Some areas also reported disease and pesticides issues affecting the production. According to official data, paddy cultivation spans around 46,500 hectares of land in Sarlahi.

Farmers without reliable irrigation facilities resorted to using water pumping systems for irrigation during rice transplantation due to the delay in the onset of rainfall, which resulted in increase in production cost.

(RSS)

 
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