July 22, Kathmandu- Paddy sowing has been delayed this time due to floods and landslides that started with the monsoon.

According to the data provided by the Ministry of Agriculture, only 76.44 percent of paddy has been sown so far as against 81.85 percent last year. According to statistics, paddy has been planted in Karnali.

Similarly, 90.71 percent has been planted in Far West, 86.94 percent in Lumbini, 78.35 percent in Bagmati, 72.40 percent in Gandaki, 68.54 percent in-province  2, and 64.48 percent in province 1.

While paddy has been planted in 1.371 million 706 hectares across Nepal, only 1.048 million 507.17 hectares have been planted so far. By this time last year, sowing had been done at 1.119 million 91.2 percent. The highest transplantation in State 1 was 78.1 percent in Taplejung and the lowest in Sankhuwasabha was only 40 percent.

Similarly, out of eight districts of State 2, Rautahat and Parsa have the highest transplantation of 75 percent and Siraha has the lowest transplantation of 60 percent. Bhaktapur district of Bagmati has the highest planting rate at 97 percent and Sindhupalchowk has the lowest at 54 percent. There is no paddy cultivation in Manang and Mustang in Gandaki. Baglung has the highest planting rate at 93 percent and Lamjung at 45 percent.

Planting has been completed in Nawalparasi of Lumbini province while 95 percent has been planted in Rolpa, Pyuthan, Rupandehi, and Bardiya. Kailali district in the far west has the highest planting of 98 percent and Baitadi has the lowest planting of 70 percent.

If the floods and landslides do not affect the second/third week of July, the information officer of the department said. Mahadev Prasad Poudel informed. Paddy sowing is in full swing as irrigation, fertilizer, and seeds are available on time.

However, he said that there was some delay in the beginning due to obstruction by floods and landslides. Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development has set a target of producing 6 million metric tonnes of paddy if the sowing is completed on time.