Paddy Production Expected to Decline by Five Percent This Year

Paddy production is expected to decline by five percent this year due to the damage caused to the agricultural sector by heavy rains.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, the projected decline in rice output is based on an analysis of the losses amounting to Rs 3.55 billion incurred by the agriculture and livestock sectors across the country caused by rainfall.

Information Officer at the Ministry, Mahananda Joshi, said that of the 5.955 million metric tonnes of rice produced last year, production is expected to fall by about 3 percent, equivalent to nearly 300,000 metric tonnes.

He noted that the impact of climate change has severely affected the agricultural sector, with disasters such as floods, heavy rains, and soil erosion inflicting the most damage.

Over the past four to five years, rice production had been on the rise, and it was initially estimated that output would exceed 6 million metric tonnes this year. However, the Ministry said the target is unlikely to be achieved due to extensive crop damage.

Unseasonal rains and hailstorms have caused significant losses to farmers. Many suffered heavy damage to harvested paddy that had been left to dry in fields, as waterlogging and continuous rain spoiled large quantities of grain.

Joshi said that although the Meteorological Forecasting Department had issued timely warnings about possible rainfall, the Ministry’s advisory to farmers to harvest paddy only after the weather cleared could not be implemented effectively.

The Ministry has been providing support to farmers through the supply of fertilizers, bio products, modern technologies, and improved seed varieties. -- RSS