BIRATNAGAR: Province 1 has seen a 3.94 per cent metric tonnes increment per hectare land in the production of paddy grains this year, bringing joy to farmers.

This year, over 1.3 million metric tonnes of paddy grains were produced against over 1.2 million metric tonnes in the fiscal year, 2075/76 and over 1.1 metric tonnes in the FY 2076/77, according to Agriculture Development Directorate, Biratnagar.

Timely and adequate rain, favorable weather and irrigation are said to be responsible for this.

This year, 332,917 hectares of land was used for paddy plantation against 340,829 hectares used last year, said the Directorate, Biratnagar, adding that 97.68 per cent land was used for paddy plantation this year.

Experts have taken the increment in paddy grains production as a good indicator in agriculture sector. However, farmers are disappointed without decent prices for paddy grains.