KATHMANDU: About 98 percent of paddy sowing has been completed across the country, according to the Department of Agriculture. The figure is 1.92 percentage points higher than the same period last year.
Department data shows that paddy has been planted on 1,341,764 hectares of land so far, against an estimated total cultivable area of 1.37 million hectares.
Sudurpaschim Province has achieved the highest sowing rate at 100 percent, followed by Karnali at 98.5 percent. Sowing has been completed on 98.10 percent of paddy fields in Madhesh, 97.87 percent in Lumbini, 97.82 percent in Bagmati, 97 percent in Koshi, and 96.68 percent in Gandaki.
Department Director General Prakash Kumar Sanjel said paddy sowing was delayed somewhat this year due to inadequate rainfall, particularly in parts of Madhesh Province. However, he said planting has accelerated in recent weeks as rainfall conditions improved.
According to Sanjel, most farmers still depend on rainfall for paddy cultivation, but the monsoon has been relatively favorable this year. He said the overall conditions for paddy cultivation are better than last year, raising expectations of higher production.
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