Paddy Planting Almost Complete Across Nepal

Sabika Shrestha/Pawan Barsha

Nepal has completed 98.56 percent of this year’s rice planting, 4 percent higher than the same period last year.

The Department of Agriculture says timely rainfall has helped farmers complete planting faster across most provinces.

Sudurpashchim and Karnali have achieved 100 percent planting, while Madhesh has the largest planted area.

With planting nearly complete, the focus now shifts to fertilizer, irrigation, and pest control to improve rice production.

Paddy has been planted on more than 1.35 million hectares nationwide. Madhesh Province accounts for the largest area, with paddy planted on around 376,000 hectares.

In terms of progress, Sudurpashchim and Karnali provinces have completed 100 percent of their paddy planting. Gandaki has also recorded a notable improvement, with planting reaching 99.31 percent, compared to 94.83 percent at the same time last year.

The improvement is particularly significant in Madhesh, the country’s major paddy-producing region. Paddy planting there has reached 98.23 percent this year, compared to just 86.35 percent during the same period last year.

Koshi Province has also seen an improvement, with planting reaching 98.82 percent, up from 96.67 percent last year.

Officials say the timely arrival of the monsoon has helped farmers complete paddy planting earlier and across a larger area than last year. With planting progressing well, the department expects paddy production to improve this year.

However, completing the planting season is only the first step. The government now faces the challenge of ensuring that farmers have timely access to fertilizers and irrigation, while also controlling diseases and pests that could affect the crop.

With nearly all paddy already in the ground, the focus now shifts from planting to protecting the crop and securing the harvest.