BANKE: Wheat cultivation area in Banke district has been declining year by year, but production has increased compared to the previous year, according to agricultural officials.
Santosh Pathak, Senior Horticulture Development Officer and Information Officer at the Agriculture Knowledge Center, Banke, said improved seed varieties, better irrigation, favorable weather conditions, and higher seed replacement rates have contributed to increased output. He added that the growing use of hybrid seeds by farmers has also supported productivity gains.
According to the office, Banke produced 77,708 metric tons of wheat last year from 20,895 hectares of land. Despite a further decline in cultivated area this year, production is expected to rise due to timely rainfall and the absence of major pest and disease outbreaks.
Pathak said regular field visits, crop treatment campaigns, mobile training programs, and awareness initiatives have also helped improve yields even as farmland under wheat has shrunk. Farmers, meanwhile, are at a crucial stage of harvesting and securing their annual production.
Krishna Bikram KC, Chairperson of the All Nepal Farmers’ Federation, Banke, also said wheat output has improved this year despite weather-related damage during different growth stages. He noted that overall conditions remained favorable during the key production period.
However, the cultivated area continues to fall annually. Wheat was grown on 21,515 hectares in fiscal year 2080/081 BS, which dropped to 20,895 hectares last year, with a further decline reported this year, according to the Agriculture Knowledge Center.
Officials said farmers are increasingly shifting toward mustard, spring maize, and vegetable farming. Urban expansion in Nepalgunj Sub-metropolitan City, Kohalpur Municipality, and Khajura Rural Municipality, along with wildlife damage in Rapti Sonari Rural Municipality, has also contributed to the shrinking wheat cultivation area.
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