KATHMANDU: Paddy transplantation across Nepal has declined by 12.62 percent compared to the same period last year, mainly due to delayed monsoon rains.
According to the Department of Agriculture, paddy has been transplanted on 443,595 hectares of land as of Monday, accounting for 32.38 percent of the country’s total cultivable paddy area. During the same period last year, transplantation had reached 45 percent.
Nepal has more than 1.37 million hectares of land suitable for paddy cultivation, according to the department.
Province-wise, Sudurpaschim has recorded the highest transplantation rate at 57.9 percent, followed by Gandaki (41 percent), Karnali (40.5 percent), Lumbini (37.3 percent), Bagmati (33.2 percent), Koshi (31.5 percent) and Madhesh (15.6 percent).
Director General of the Department of Agriculture Prakash Kumar Sanjel said changes in weather patterns had delayed the onset and spread of the monsoon this year, slowing paddy transplantation.
“Once rainfall becomes widespread across the country, farmers in the remaining areas are expected to complete paddy transplantation,” he said.
Madhesh Province, Nepal’s largest rice-producing region, has recorded only 15.6 percent transplantation despite its significant contribution to national rice production, raising concerns over a possible decline in this year’s harvest.
The southern plains account for nearly 70 percent of Nepal’s total rice production, while the hilly regions contribute the remaining 30 percent.
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