Biratnagar, July 17

Only 39.60 per cent paddy has been planted in the east due to inadequate rainfall till date.

According to data at the Regional Agriculture Directorate Biratnagar, only 39.60 per cent paddy has been planted in 16 districts, 59.39 per cent paddy has been planted in the high hills and 53.32 per cent and 34 per cent paddy have been planted in the mid-hills and Tarai area respectively.

Senior Crop protection Officer Arun Ghimire at the regional directorate said that paddy plantation had failed to pick up pace in Jhapa, Morang and Sunsari districts.

In Morang, only 35 per cent paddy has been planted, while 40 and 50 per cent paddy has been planted in Sunsari and Jhapa respectively. Ghimire said that only 15 per cent paddy was planted in Siraha while 25 per cent paddy was planted in Saptari district.

Mid-June to July end is suitable for paddy plantation in the Tarai belt. For want of rainfall, paddy fields look barren. Farmers complained that paddy saplings they had planted too had started to wilt.

Paddy is cultivated in 496,400 hectare land in the east. Of them, irrigation facility is available in 267,000 hectare land. Seasonal irrigation is available in 213,000 hectare. Peasants living around 45,000 hectare area depend on rainfall.