Favourable monsoon has accelerated paddy plantation across the country this year, with plantation carried out on over 64 per cent of arable land. The latest paddy plantation data unveiled by Ministry of Agriculture, Land Management and Cooperatives, show plantation of the cereal crop had been completed on 63.95 per cent of total arable land of 58,158 hectares in high-hills; 66.99 per cent of 399,675 hectares of cultivable land in mid-hills and 63.02 per cent of 1,094,636 hectares of land in Tarai as of Monday. The progress is a significant improvement from the same period last year, when paddy plantation had been completed on only 55 per cent of arable land, as per the ministry officials. Region-wise, plantation has been carried out on 157,775 hectares or 89.36 per cent of total 176,760 hectares of land in far-western region; 123,292 hectares or 69.23 per cent of total arable land of 178,096 hectares of mid-western region; 229,447 hectares or 73.41 per cent of 312,547 hectares of western region; 266,950 hectares or 60.76 per cent of 439,328 hectares of arable land in central region; and 217,325 hectares or 48.73 per cent of 445,938 hectares of arable land in eastern region. Region Arable land Cultivation completed High-hills 58,158 hectares 37,189 hectares Mid-hills 399,675 hectares 267,729 hectares Tarai 1,094,636 hectares 994,789 hectares