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Paddy is Nepal’s main food crop. Agricultural experts say farmers will get better yields if paddy seedlings are transplanted by mid-July. However, plantation has been completed on only around half of the paddy fields because of factors like a long spell of drought, shortage of fertilizers, and the impact of lumpy skin disease on oxen. 

Plantation had been completed on 65 percent of paddy fields by this time last year.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, paddy transplantation has been affected this year due to the late onset of monsoon in Madhes, Kosi, and Bagmati provinces, and lumpy skin disease in Karnali and Sudurpaschim provinces. About 90 percent of the fields in Madhes province, which is considered the country’s granary, are still barren. 

Paddy transplantation has been completed on 95 percent of paddy fields in Sudurpashchim Province.

Jhapa, the largest paddy producer in the country, has achieved 65 percent progress in paddy transplantation by mid-July. However, paddy transplantation has been completed on 95 percent of paddy fields in Kailali—the second-largest producer. Bajhang, a hilly district of Sudurpashchim Province, has made 100 percent progress in paddy transplantation.

Rabindra Kumar Kushbaha of Belgachhi in Gaushala-8 of Mahottari said paddy fields are barren even in mid-July due to a lack of sufficient rainfall. “Some farmers transplanted paddy by making alternative arrangements, but seedlings are drying up,” he said.

Most of the paddy fields of Dinesh Mahato of Gaushala-11 are barren. Mahato, who cultivated paddy in two and a half bighas last year, hasn't been able to transplant seedlings this year. “Seedlings are drying up in the seedbed,” he added.

According to the Agriculture Knowledge Center, Mahottari, paddy transplantation has been completed on only 15 percent of paddy fields in the district so far. “The situation is not worrying yet, as paddy transplantation here continues till the end of July. We might get adequate rainfall by that time,” Ram Chandra Yadav, chief of the center, said.

About 90 percent of paddy fields in Madhesh Province are still barren, according to the Ministry of Land Reforms, Agriculture, and Cooperatives. Paddy seedlings have been transplanted on only 33,773 hectares out of 354,383 hectares in eight districts of the province.

Banke of Lumbini Province has made only 50 percent progress in paddy transplanting. “Transplantation progress was only 15 percent at the beginning of June. Most of the farmers have already prepared seedlings in the seedbed. Transplantation will gain pace if there is adequate rain,” Shakil Ahmed, chief of Agriculture Knowledge Center, Banke, said.

Transplantation has been completed only on the paddy fields in Rapti Sonari, Baijanath, Duduwa, and Khajura and areas that receive water from the Sikta Irrigation Project. “Paddy had been transplanted in all areas of Banke, except Narainpur, by this time last year. Narainpur has made the least progress in paddy transplantation this year,” Ahmed added.

Baglung in Gandaki Province has reported 65 percent progress in paddy transplantation. According to the Agriculture Knowledge Center, Baglung, transplantation has been done on 3,824 hectares out of the total of 5,883 hectares.

56 percent progress in Koshi 

Koshi Province has achieved 56 percent progress in paddy transplantation till mid-July. According to the Agriculture Development Directorate, Biratnagar, this is seven percent more compared to the same period last year. “Paddy transplantation has been completed on 50 percent of paddy fields in high hilly areas, 47 percent in mid-hills area, and 60 percent in Tarai areas,” Prakash Kumar Danig, chief of the directorate, said.

Dangi said paddy transplantation is progressing smoothly in Koshi Province. “We had achieved 49 percent progress in the same period last year. Paddy can be transplanted in Tarai districts until late August,” he added.

Paddy is cultivated on 340,829 hectares out of 826,646 hectares of arable land in Koshi. Of them, paddy has already been transplanted on 191,000 hectares.

73 percent progress in Karnali 

Plantation is going on at a slow pace in Karnali which would have completed transplantation on 90 percent of fields by mid-July. According to Tilak Pandey, an information officer at the Directorate of Agricultural Development, Surkhet, transplantation has been completed on 73.79 percent of paddy fields so far.

Out of 15,240 hectares of paddy fields in Surkhet, transplantation has been completed on 10,023 hectares, or 65 percent. Progress in paddy transplantation stands at 53 percent in Dailekh, 85 percent in Jajarkot, 83 percent in West Rukum, 90 percent in Salyan, 100 percent in Dolpa, 84 percent in Humla, 97 percent in Jumla, and 84 percent in Kalikot.

66.71 percent progress in Gandaki 

Paddy transplantation has been completed on 66.71 percent of paddy fields in Gandaki by mid-July, compared to 79.45 percent in the same period of the last fiscal year.

According to the Directorate of Agriculture Development, Pokahra, most of the districts in the province depend on monsoon rains for paddy. Only 37 percent of arable land in Gandaki has irrigation facilities.

While paddy transplantation has been completed on 50 percent of paddy fields in Gorkha, progress in transplantation stands at 65 percent in Lamjung, 68 percent in Tanahun, 65 percent in Parbat, 40 percent in Syangja, 65 percent in Baglung, 80 percent in Kaski, and 85 percent in Nawalpur.

Highest progress in Sudurpashchim

Sudurpashchim has achieved 92 percent progress in paddy transplantation—the highest among the seven provinces of the country.

According to Keshav Raj Pandey, information officer of the Directorate of Agricultural Development, Dhangadhi, transplantation has been completed on 95 percent of paddy fields in Kailali—the largest paddy producer in the province.

“Likewise, Kanchanpur has made 91 percent progress in transplantation. Thanks to good monsoon rains, transplantation has been completed even on farms that do not have irrigation facilities,” Pandey added.

Transplantation, however, hasn’t made much progress in eight hilly districts of the province, which depend on monsoon rains. “These districts haven’t received rain for the past three to four days,” Yagya Raj Pandey, director of the directorate, said. “Nevertheless, we are hopeful that transplantation will be completed in the province within a week.”

Paddy is cultivated on 179,000 hectares in nine districts of Sudurpashchim. While Baitadi has reported 98 percent progress in paddy transplantation, progress in other districts stands at 90 percent in Darchula and Dadeldhura, 88 percent in Doti, and 85 percent each in Achham and Bajura.

An earthquake measuring 4 on the Richter scale shook Kaski district on Wednesday.

The National Earthquake Monitoring and Research Center said that the tremor was felt at 9: 53 am local time with its epicenter at Mirsa of the district.

On July 13, an earthquake measuring 4.6 on the Richter scale occurred in Humla, with its epicenter at Kalika.  

Police have arrested a man on the charge of keeping a suspicious object in Sinamangal.

SP Sitaram Rijal of the District Police Range, Kathmandu, said that a man has been apprehended for placing a suspicious object in Sinamagal.

His details will be made public shortly, police said.

A suspicious object was found near the Khotang Halesi Jewelers in Sinamangal on Wednesday morning.

A pamphlet of a party called Nepal Utthan Krantikari was also found in the place where the suspicious object was found.

Meanwhile, a bomb disposal squad of Nepal Army defused the suspicious object.

The price of gold has increased by Rs 600 per tola in the domestic market on Wednesday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 113, 100 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 112, 500 per tola on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 112, 550 per tola. It was traded at Rs 111, 950 per tola.

Similarly, the silver is being traded at Rs 1,490 per tola today.  

The government has decided to publish a notice regarding waiver and amendment in the fees for company registration and capital increment.

A Cabinet meeting held at the Prime Minister's official residence in Baluwatar this morning made the decision to this effect, informed government spokesperson and Minister for Communications and Information Technology Rekha harma.

The meeting also approved the Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s upcoming visit to Italy to participate in the 'United Nations Food System, 2023 Stocktaking Moment' to be organized by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in its headquarters in Italy.

The meeting decided that the PM Dahal-led Nepali delegation will comprise Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Dr Beduram Bhusal and others.

Minister Sharma said that the government has appointed Dr Rabi Malla as the executive committee member of the Martyr Gangalal National Heart Centre. 

Dr Malla has been serving the hospital as a medical person.

A suspicious object was found in Sinamangal, Kathmandu on Wednesday.

The suspicious object was found near Khotang Halesi Jewelers near Sinamangal Bridget this morning.

SP Sitaram Rijal of the District Police Range, Kathmandu said that the suspicious object was found near the shutter of Khotang Halesi Jewelers.

He said that a bomb disposal team was called to defuse the suspicious object.

Security has been beefed up in the area, police said.

CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli left for Cambodia.

A six-member team headed by Oli left for Cambodia last night to observe the election to be held there, informed UML Publicity Department Chief Rajendra Gautam.

The delegation comprises Oli's spouse Radhika Shakya, party's deputy general secretary Bishnu Rimal, Oli's personal secretary Rajesh Bajhracharya.

Chair Oli is scheduled to return home on July 24.

Finance Minister Dr Prakash Saran Mahat has urged Indian investors to spur investment in Nepal with confidence as Nepal is a fertile land for investment and returns perspectives.

In his address to a program hosted by the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce of India in Gujarat on Tuesday, Finance Minister Dr Mahat called for the Indian investors to flow investment in Nepal, informed the Ministry of Finance.

He said Nepal has recently signed an agreement to export 10,000 MW electricity to India which would resultantly incentivize hydropower production in Nepal and also open up several avenues for the industries to supply power in higher quantities.

He further said that Nepal is in a situation to ensure hydro power supply all time at a cheaper price and the goods produced in Nepal also get easy access in India which he said would enable an environment for investment promotion.

Finance Minister Dr Mahat urged the Indian business community to confidently make investment as there is no trouble at policy level in returning the yields to their home country.

Dr Mahat went on to say that there are abundant opportunities for investment in agriculture enterprises, information technology and tourism besides energy production.

The advancement of the information technology sector is gaining momentum in Nepal, Dr Mahat said, adding availability of cheaper human resources can promote competitive market capacity.

Also speaking on the occasion, senior Vice-Chairperson of Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sandeep Engineer said the industrialists and entrepreneurs of Gujarat are interested to expand investment and operate business in Nepal and urged the Nepal government to facilitate the process for the same.

At the program, officials of the Finance Ministry and New Delhi-based Nepali Embassy briefed the Indian business community about the scope and potentials of investment in Nepal.