Lamjung, December 26 :

Paddy production has registered a fall by 20 per cent this year compared to last year in Lamjung district.

Drought and lack of sufficient rainfall are said to be the main cause in decrease in paddy production, District Agricultural Development Office (DADO), Lamjung said.

The hailstone in October caused damage to 70 per cent of paddy in different Village Development Committees (VDCs) including Bhorletar, Ishnehswor, Jita, Ramgha and Pasgaun VDCs. 32, 213 metric tonnes of paddy was produced from 15533 hectors of land in the district this year, Premraj Devkota, DADO officer, said, adding that paddy production has posted a fall by 20 per cent in comparison to last year.

People could not plant paddy in Ramgha, Jita, Tarku, Duradanda and Chakratirtha VDCs of the district due to the lack of rainfall this year.