Jhapa, Dec. 18
Jhapa, the district announced as the super-zone for rice production, has witnessed 5 per cent decrease in the rice output.
Increasing trend of converting the fertile land into settlement and expansion of private forest has contributed to the decline in the production of the main food grain in the district.
In addition to it, shortage of chemical fertilizers, lack of proper irrigation and pest attack had affected rice production, said Shesh Raj Poudel, information officer of the Agriculture Knowledge Centre, Jhapa.
In recent years, the cultivated land is witnessing aggressive plotting while large holders have expanded their private forest which has resulted in the decrease of the land for rice cultivation.
Likewise, many farmers have set fire in their rice fields following the attack of the armyworm.
Farmers had planted rice even when they didn't have irrigation facility and had to wait for enough rain for the cultivation. Late plantation had affected the amount of rice production as well.
According to Poudel, paddy production has decreased by about 20,500 tonnes. Last year, paddy was planted in 87,500 hectares of land which was decreased to 84,875 ha this year. The production of rice was 4.6 tonnes per ha last year and 4.5 MT per ha this year.
About 381,937 tonnes rice is produced in the district this year which is less than 20,553 tonnes compared to the yields of last year.
Meanwhile, farmers have complained of not getting the government set price for their rice.
The government had announced Rs. 2,600 per quintal of rice but farmers have to sell their product at just Rs. 2,000 in the local markets.
Decreased production and low price of the product has worried the farmers.
Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 19 December 2019.
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