Kathmandu, July 3

Paddy plantation has been carried out on 22.07 per cent of 1.55 million hectares of arable land across the country as of today.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Land Management and Cooperative (MoALMC), plantation of the cereal crop this year has been completed on 342,631 hectares of land so far.

By first week of July last year, paddy plantation had been completed on almost 25 per cent of arable land.

“Farmers are busy in paddy fields following timely and favourable monsoon. We expect paddy plantation to be completed on more than 35 per cent of arable lands within this week,” informed Yogendra Karki, spokesperson for MoALMC.

The MoAD data show that paddy plantation has been carried out on 38.21 per cent of 58,158 hectares of arable land in high-hills. Similarly, paddy plantation has been carried out on 29.09 per cent of the 399,675 hectares of arable land in mid-hills, while paddy plantation has been completed so far on 18.65 per cent of 1,094,636 hectares of cultivable land in Tarai.

In terms of development regions, the far-western region has topped the chart with paddy plantation completed on 50.21 per cent of 176,560 hectares of arable land. Mid-western region stood second with plantation of the cereal crop completed on 29.72 per cent of 178,096 hectares of arable land. Likewise, paddy plantation has been completed on 24.84 per cent of 312,547 hectares of arable land in western region, 16.19 per cent of 445,938 hectares of arable land in eastern region and 11.66 per cent of 439,328 hectares of arable land in central region.

Tarai is also known as the rice bowl of the country, as it contributes 70 per cent to total rice production. It also covers 70 per cent of total paddy cultivation area of the country although paddy farming is carried out in all 77 districts across country.

Paddy production alone has over 20 per cent contribution to the total agricultural production of Nepal, while agriculture sector has almost 30 per cent contribution to the national gross domestic product (GDP) value.

Quick look

Region

Arable land

Plantation completed

High-hill

58,158 hectares

22,224 hectares

Mid-hill

399,675 hectares

116,282 hectares

Tarai

1,094,636 hectares

204,126 hectares

Source: MoALMC