The Ministry of Agricultural Development (MoAD) has forecast production of four major summer cereal crops — paddy, maize, millet and buckwheat — to stand at 7.64 million tonnes, as against 6.89 million recorded in the same period a year ago, reports the Himalayan Times.
“Since summer cereal crops contribute to around 75 per cent of the annual cereal crop production, we are expecting a good harvest of cereal crops this year,” senior statistician at MoAD Hom Raj Regmi told journalists at a press meet held in Kathmandu.
Of the four major summer cereal crops, production of paddy is expected to jump to 5.05 million tonnes this year from 4.50 million tonnes recorded in the same period a year ago, up 12 per cent. The market value of this harvest stands at Rs 109.36 billion, considering average value of paddy at Rs 2,167 per quintal. Paddy was planted in 1.49 hectares of land this summer as against 1.42 hectares of land in same period a year ago
“The main reasons for rise in paddy production are use of good quality seeds and good monsoon,” Regmi said.
Although the monsoon, which begins by June 10, was delayed this year, the country had good rainfall from July to September, which proved to be a boon for paddy farmers. However, not all paddy farmers were happy this season, as large swathes of land in Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusha, Mahottari and Sarlahi faced drought.
Good amount of rain is also expected to push up summer production of maize by almost 10 per cent to 2.28 tonnes this year. However, excess rain in some parts of the country caused the stem of some maize plants to rot, which affected production. Maize was planted in 928,761 hectares of land this summer as against 874,015 hectares last year.
