KATHMANDU: In celebration of Asar 15, National Paddy Day, a rice planting event was organized at the President’s residence, Sheetal Niwas on Saturday.

The event, organized by the President’s Office, saw the participation of President Ramchandra Paudel and First Lady Sabita Paudel among others.

Inaugurating the event, President Paudel highlighted the significance of agriculture, the culture of honoring labor, and the encouragement of rice production.

He emphasized that his symbolic participation in the rice planting was to promote these values.

“Previously, rice production surpassed that of fruits and vegetables in the country. Despite having abundant food, relying solely on rice resulted in nutritional deficiencies. As kitchen gardening increased, rice production decreased, leading to imports,” he said adding, “This created an imbalance. Therefore, to ensure balanced nutrition, it is essential to boost rice production, honor agricultural professions, and promote the culture of labor. My participation in this planting is symbolic of these values.”

Following the rice planting, there was a program where participants enjoyed curd and beaten rice.