Paddy transplantation is gaining momentum in Madhes Province after monsoon rains finally arrived. 

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, transplantation has been completed in 77 percent of paddy fields in eight districts of the province. Ministry officials say total plantation could reach 80 percent this year. They fear paddy productivity in the province will come down this year due to delayed planting.

Out of 372,645 hectares of paddy fields in the province, transplantation had been done in 285,335 hectares by August 10. The government declared eight districts of Madhes Province as disaster-hit area on July 23, as a long spell of drought created a shortage of drinking water and affected paddy production in the province. The government announced immediate relief for farmers under its Underground Irrigation Support Program. Around 22,000 farmers have applied for assistance, according to the ministry. 

Paddy transplantation has been completed in most of the paddy fields in other provinces. According to the ministry, overall progress in paddy transplantation stands at 91 percent. Out of 1,378,966 hectares of paddy fields across the country, plantation has been completed in 1,254,886 hectares as at August 10. The progress in paddy transplantation had reached 98.19 percent in the same period last year.  

Sudurpashchim leads with paddy transplanted in 99.72 percent of 176,000 hectares of paddy fields in the province. Karnali, which has 41,042 hectares of paddy fields, was next with 98.4 percent progress in paddy transplantation followed by Lumbini with 98 percent of 302,939 hectares planted, while Gandaki has completed transplanting in 92.77 percent of its 94,182 hectares. Similarly, progress in Bagmati stands at 93.57 percent with 112,173 hectares out of 120,545) planted. Koshi, another key paddy-producing region of the country, has completed transplantation in 94.42 percent of its paddy fields.

Paddy is Nepal’s most important food crop. In the last fiscal year, the country achieved a record harvest of 5.95m tons, up 4.04 percent from the previous year. The total value of this output was estimated at around Rs 213.3bn. Paddy accounts for roughly 20 percent of the agricultural GDP and about seven percent of the overall national GDP. Any disruption in its production impacts not only food security but also the broader economy.