June 3: Nepal has imported paddy seeds worth Rs 1.61 billion for this year’s plantation. Seed importers have imported various hybrid paddy seeds from India and China.

According to the data provided by the Seed Quality Control Center, 34 importer companies have imported a total of 4,149 metric tons of paddy seeds worth Rs 1.61 billion this year.

Altogether 46 types of seed imported this year include US 311, Champion, Raja, Maharaja, Sawamansuli, Sudha, and Shanti. Bikas Kharel, horticulture officer at the center, informed that among these, 39 varieties were imported from India and the remaining seven varieties were imported from China.

Paddy seeds like Savitri, Sonamansuli, Makwanpur and Basmati are produced in Nepal while hybrid seeds are imported from India and China. According to Kharel, larger amounts of seeds are imported from India than China in terms of quantity. A total of 3,961 metric tons of seeds have been imported from India this year, while  188 metric tons of seeds have been imported from China.

About 70,000 metric tons of paddy seeds are required annually for a total of 1.35 million hectares of cultivable land in Nepal. It is estimated that Nepali seed companies produce 10,000 metric tons of paddy seeds annually. Stakeholders say that some farmers use their own local seeds.