87 percent paddy plantation, seven percent less than last year

Kathmandu:  The country has witnessed 87 percent of paddy plantation this year.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development informed that the data it maintained till August 11 showed that paddy plantation was done on 87 percent of the land, which is seven percent less than the same time last year.

A spokesperson at Ministry, Sabnam Shivakoti, said the data till August 11 recorded the paddy plantation in 1.4 million hectares of land which is 87 percent. The paddy plantation was shrunk this year due to delayed monsoons in Madhes Province, Bagmati Province, and Gandaki Province.

The rice transplantation goes on till the end of this month (Saun). The Ministry, however, said it expected 92 to 95 percent paddy plantation by the end of this month.

Categorically, Koshi Province had the paddy plantation in 94 percent of the land, while Madhes had only 68 percent. Gandaki Province completed 93 percent of paddy plantation, while Karnali 98 percent, Lumbini 93 percent, and Sudurpaschim the highest, 99 percent.

The Ministry further informed that Nepal began exporting tomatoes to India. Some 30 metric tonnes of tomato was exported to India via Kakadbhitta and Bhairahawa.

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