DHARAN: Winter maize production in Sunsari district has seen a notable increase, with output rising by 2.38 percent in the fiscal year 2081/82 (2024/25) compared to the previous year, according to the Agricultural Knowledge Center Sunsari.
In fiscal year 2080/81, the district produced 83,120 metric tons of winter maize from 10,640 hectares of land. This figure rose to 84,802 metric tons in 2081/82, informed Prabin Lal Shrestha, the center’s information officer. He noted that farmers are increasingly cultivating hybrid varieties of maize to boost productivity.
“Farmers are now growing improved hybrids such as Rampur Hybrid 10, Parnier 33, Parnier 35, and Parnier 53,” Shrestha said. Roshan Gupta, a farmer from Barahakshetra Municipality-11, shared that he harvested over 90 quintals of winter maize from two bighas of previously unused land.
Compared to other crops, winter maize has several advantages—it matures faster, requires less labor and input costs, and faces no market constraints, which has increased its appeal among farmers. Gupta added that the maize is currently being sold at Rs 32 to 35 per kilogram in the local market.
Winter maize is typically sown in the months of Mangsir and Poush and harvested in Chaitra and Baisakh, requiring around 140 to 150 days to mature. The Agricultural Knowledge Center has been actively providing farmers with training and technical assistance.
Farmers across various parts of Sunsari—including Bhokraha, Dewanganj, Inaruwa, Duhabi, Koshi, Harinagara, and Barahakshetra—have been successfully cultivating winter maize, contributing to the steady rise in production.
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