KATHMANDU, July 19: Progress in planting paddy is 42 percent as of July 19, and this is better than the 38 percent in the same period last year. The progress is closer to the 45 percent mark of 2013, a year of record high paddy production of over 5 million tons.
"Paddy planting till Thursday indicates better performance and the cultivation in the Mid-Western and Far Western Regions also shows much progress," said Hemraj Regmi, senior statistician at the Ministry of Agricultural Development.
National Paddy Day today
The progress in paddy production was only 38 percent till this date last year, and the decline in production had affected the country's economic growth.
However, paddy planting in the Western Development Region is below that of 2013 at 43 percent. Government officials say paddy cultivation in the region is late as farmers have yet to harvest the spring paddy.
"It's too early to project the paddy production but early indications are that the production will improve as needed seeds have been distributed to quake-affected farmers and the supply of chemical fertilizer is also smooth this year," said Regmi. The pattern of the monsoon in the days to come will determine the paddy production, said Regmi.
Paddy, a staple crop, accounts for one-fifth of the total agricultural output. About one-third of the paddy acerage of over 1,420,169 hectares is completely dependent on the rainfall.
Earthquake coupled with the poor monsoon last year have affected the agricultural sector.
About 60 percent of the working-age population is engaged in agriculture.
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