98 percent paddy transplanting done across Nepal, rice production projected to rise

KATHMANDU, Aug 17: This year, about 98 percent of paddy transplantation has been completed across the country. The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development reported that approximately 1.4 million hectares of land is suitable for paddy cultivation, and paddy has been transplanted on about 1.372 million hectares of this land. In the last fiscal year (FY) 2023/24, paddy had been transplanted on only about 90 percent of the arable land by July, but by July of the current FY 2024/2025, it has increased by eight percent. This year, due to favorable rainfall, paddy transplanting has been better. Mahanand Joshi, the information officer for the ministry, informed RSS that rice production is expected to increase this fiscal year. According to him, 100 percent of paddy transplanting has been completed in Sudurpaschim Province, while in Koshi Province, less than 95 percent has been completed. In FY 2023/2024, Sudurpaschim recorded the highest percentage of paddy transplantation at 99 ...