GANDAKI: The area under monsoon paddy cultivation in Gandaki Province has decreased by 1,700 hectares this year, falling from 97,769 hectares last year to 96,053 hectares.
According to Basudev Regmi, Chief of the Province Agriculture Development Directorate, 97.50% of paddy transplantation has been completed so far this monsoon, with 93,651 hectares already planted.
Paddy transplantation has been fully completed in Myagdi and Lamjung districts, while other districts are in the final stages.
Rice is cultivated in nine districts across the province, excluding Mustang and Manang, which lie beyond the Himalayas.
Regmi noted that the area under rice cultivation has been steadily declining each year in Gandaki Province.
Out of the total 479,617 hectares of cultivable land in the province, approximately 100,000 hectares are used for both spring and monsoon rice cultivation.
Nawalpur, Kaski, Syangja, and Tanahu districts have the largest areas under rice cultivation.
According to Directorate statistics, this year paddy has been planted on 18,716 hectares in Nawalpur, 16,220 hectares in Kaski, 11,875 hectares in Lamjung, 10,140 hectares in Gorkha, 7,674 hectares in Tanahu, 14,390 hectares in Syangja, 7,525 hectares in Parbat, 5,707 hectares in Baglung, and 3,806 hectares in Myagdi.
Chief Regmi attributed the shrinking area for rice cultivation to the fragmentation of agricultural land for development and land plotting, as well as the growing trend of leaving land fallow.
He emphasized that farmers could increase paddy production even in smaller areas if irrigation facilities, modern farming techniques, seeds, and fertilizers are provided on time.
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