Nepal’s paddy planting reached 72 pc of target by mid-July: MoALD

KATHMANDU: The country's paddy seedling plantation has reached 72% of its target area by the third week of July, 12 percentage points lower than during the same period last year, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD) said.  

MoALD reports that paddy has been planted on around 1 million hectares so far, against an annual average of 1.4 million hectares.  

According to data collected on Sunday, planting is continuing across various parts of the country. MoALD Information Officer Mahananda Joshi said Sudurpashchim Province leads with 97% of its target achieved, covering about 171,000 hectares. Lumbini and Karnali provinces follow with 88% each.  

Joshi added that the ministry expects paddy planting to reach 98% of the national target by mid-August.  

He noted that the Tarai region, which produces roughly 70% of Nepal’s paddy, remains the most fertile, while the hilly areas contribute the remaining 30%.  

During fiscal year 2023/24, rice production totalled 5.724 million tonnes. Unfavourable weather, natural disasters, excessive rainfall and droughts have delayed planting schedules in some areas.  

MoALD said a 10% change in rice production can affect the country’s gross domestic product by about 1%. This year’s output is projected at 6 million tonnes of paddy, yielding approximately 3.5 million tonnes of edible rice.

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