Nepal Celebrates 23rd National Paddy Day, Promotes Climate-Friendly Farming

KATHMANDU: Nepal is observing the 23rd National Paddy Day and Transplanting Festival on Monday with the theme "Climate-friendly technology, self-reliance in rice and prosperity." The Department of Agriculture said the event aims to increase rice production, strengthen food and nutrition security, and promote climate-friendly farming as changing weather continues to affect agriculture. National Paddy Day has been celebrated every year since 2061 BS.

A special programme is being held at the National Agronomy Research Centre in Khumaltar, where farmers, researchers, entrepreneurs and journalists who have made important contributions to rice production and promotion are being honoured. According to the Department, around 2.7 million of Nepal's 4.1 million farming households are involved in paddy cultivation, which covers about 54 per cent of the country's cultivable land. Paddy contributes around 13 per cent to the agricultural sector's gross domestic product and accounts for about half of Nepal's total food grain production.

The Department said rice productivity has increased from 3.80 metric tons per hectare to 4.19 metric tons over the past five years. In the fiscal year 2081/82, Nepal produced nearly 5.96 million metric tons of paddy from more than 1.42 million hectares of land. However, the country still requires around 7 million metric tons of paddy each year, leaving an annual shortfall of about 1 million metric tons.

Officials said climate change has created major challenges for rice farming through droughts, floods and waterlogging. To address these problems, the government has prioritised the research and expansion of climate-friendly farming technologies. The Nepal Agricultural Research Council is also developing improved rice varieties that can better withstand both drought and flooding and is promoting their use among farmers. 

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