TANAHU: Farmers across Tanahu district are rushing to harvest ‘Chaite’ paddy as the monsoon sets in.
While the sowing of Asare (annual) paddy has already begun in areas where only one rice crop is grown annually, much of the district is currently focused on completing the storage of Chaite paddy.
Paddy cultivation is widespread across the district, particularly in irrigated areas. It is practiced in most municipalities and rural municipalities including Byas, Bhanu, Bhimad, Shuklagandaki, Myagde, Aanbukhaireni, Devghat, Bandipur, Rishing, and Ghiring.
However, according to the Agricultural Knowledge Center in Tanahu, Chaite paddy cultivation is primarily concentrated in Bhanu, Byas, Myagde, and Aabukhaireni.
Out of the total 9,464 hectares of land used for paddy cultivation in the district, Chaite paddy is cultivated on 1,802 hectares.
Kiran Pariyar, Information Officer and Crop Protection Officer at the Agricultural Knowledge Center, said, “With the arrival of the monsoon, farmers are busy storing the Chaite paddy. As soon as this harvest is completed, attention will shift to sowing Asare paddy. There is a notable urgency to clear fields where Chaite paddy was cultivated.”
He further stated that sowing of Asare paddy has already begun in areas where Chaite paddy is not grown.
“Tanahun is a hilly district with extensive paddy farming,” he added. In the fiscal year 2080/81, the district produced 37,942 metric tons of paddy, including 8,704 metric tons of Chaite paddy.
The Agricultural Knowledge Center attributes the increased interest in Chaite paddy to the Chaite Paddy Promotion Program.
Although final production data for the current fiscal year is yet to be compiled, Pariyar expressed optimism, noting that improved irrigation management is likely to result in higher yields.
Chaite rice is especially preferred for producing chiura (beaten rice), a staple in local diets and festivals.
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