Rice Transplanting Completed on 70% of Paddy Fields Nationwide, Significant Improvement Noted in Madhesh
According to data from the Department of Agriculture, as of July 16, rice transplanting has been completed on 69.77 percent of the total planted paddy fields nationwide. Sudurpashchim Province leads with 90.67 percent completion, while Madhesh Province shows notable improvement with 57.13 percent transplanting achieved. With the monsoon active and irrigation facilities available, the Department of Agriculture is optimistic that transplanting will be completed in the remaining 30 percent of the area within July.
July 16, Kathmandu – Midway through this year’s rice transplanting season, approximately 70 percent of the rice planting area has been completed across the country. According to statistics from the Department of Agriculture, an average of 69.77 percent of transplanting has been done across all seven provinces as of July 16. Last year, transplanting for the same period was 72.14 percent. Out of the total 1,373,862 hectares available for rice cultivation nationwide, transplanting has been completed on 958,574 hectares this year.
By province, Sudurpashchim Province is leading the progress. Out of 162,250 hectares in the province, transplanting has been completed on 147,116 hectares, resulting in 90.67 percent completion. However, last year during the same timeframe, this figure was higher at 96.99 percent. Lumbini Province has also made good progress; transplanting has been completed on 80.65 percent (243,042 hectares) of its total 301,372 hectares area.
Similarly, in Gandaki Province, 78.36 percent of the area has been transplanted; in Bagmati Province, 77.33 percent; and in Karnali Province, 77.05 percent. Madhesh Province has shown significant improvement as well. Whereas last year only 46.83 percent of transplanting was completed by the first week of July, this year the figure has increased to 57.13 percent. In Madhesh, transplanting has been done on 221,546 hectares out of the total 382,433 hectares available.
In contrast, Koshi Province shows a slight decline this year with 54.86 percent completion compared to 61.79 percent at the same time last year. Out of the total 276,386 hectares available, transplanting has been completed on 151,619 hectares. Observing the nationwide transplanting status, with the active monsoon and expanding irrigation availability, most provinces show substantial physical progress in transplanting. The transplanting process will continue throughout July, and it is expected that the remaining 30 percent of the area will also achieve good completion.
