Although the area under paddy has decreased, paddy production has increased this year. Rice yield and productivity have increased due to timely rainfall, increased use of improved seeds and ease of fertilization.

Compared to last year, rice production has increased by 231,242 tons, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Poultry Development. 

'In the current financial year, 59 lakh 55 thousand 476 tons of rice has been produced. This amount is 4.04 percent more than in the financial year 2080/81, i.e. 231 thousand 242 tons," said the spokesperson of the ministry, Matina Joshi Vaidya, "The main reason for the increase in production is the increase in productivity. Timely rains, use of advanced seeds and ease of chemical fertilizers have also made this possible. In 2081/82, rice was cultivated on 14 lakh 20 thousand 636 hectares. 

In the financial year 2080/81, paddy was cultivated in 14 lakh 38 thousand 989 hectares. From that, 57 lakh 24 thousand 234 tons were produced. The ministry claims that with the improvement in productivity this year, rice production has also increased. Last year paddy productivity was 3.98 tonnes per hectare. According to Joshi, the productivity has increased to 4.19 tons this year. 

Even though rice production has increased compared to last year, it is still insufficient according to demand. Ramakrishna Regmi, the senior statistics officer of the Ministry of Agriculture, said that 800,000 tons per year is still insufficient for the country. Last year, about one million tons was insufficient. 

According to the data released by the Ministry on Friday, although the overall production and productivity increased, it decreased in some provinces and increased in others. Paddy area, yield and productivity have increased in Koshi this year. Last year, 14 lakh 35 thousand 678 tons of paddy was produced from 3 lakh 24 thousand 4 hundred 1 hectares in Koshi.

This year, 14 lakh 66 thousand 518 tons of rice have grown in 3 lakh 29 thousand 212 hectares. Productivity has increased in Koshi. Last year, paddy productivity in Koshi was 4.43 tonnes per hectare. According to the ministry, it has increased to 4.43 tons per hectare this year. 

The area planted with paddy has decreased in Madhesh. But rice production and productivity have increased. Last year, 383 thousand 183 hectares of paddy was cultivated in Madhesh. And 13 lakh 37 thousand 672 tons of rice was produced. This year, 14 lakh 80 thousand 830 tons of rice has been produced in 374 thousand 117 lakh hectares. Productivity per hectare increased from 3.49 tons to 3.96 tons, the ministry said. 

In Bagmati, both the area planted with rice and the production have decreased. But productivity has increased. Last year, rice was cultivated on 128 thousand 903 hectares. 5 lakh 4 thousand 344 tons of rice was produced from that area.

This year, the area planted with rice has shrunk to 125,157 hectares. Paddy production has also decreased to 498 thousand 662 tons. Here, the productivity of rice has increased from 3.91 tons per hectare to 3.98 tons. 

Even in Gandaki, the area planted with paddy and production has decreased. Productivity has also increased here. 3 lakh 79 thousand 32 tons of paddy has been produced in 97 thousand 959 hectares in Gandaki. Last year, paddy was cultivated in 1 lakh 1 thousand 923 hectares. Joshi said that 391 thousand 624 tons of rice was produced. Here, the productivity of rice has increased from 3.84 tons per hectare to 3.87 tons. 

Paddy cultivation has also decreased in Lambini. But both output and productivity have increased. Last year, paddy cultivation was done in 3 lakh 2 thousand 386 hectares in Lumbini. According to the ministry, 13 lakh 10 thousand 829 tons of rice was produced from this area. This year, paddy has been cultivated in 299,769 hectares in Lumbini. 13 lakh 64 thousand 31 tons of rice has been produced from this area. Paddy productivity in Lumbini has increased from 4.33 tons to 4.55 tons per hectare. 

Paddy planted area, production and productivity have all decreased in Karnali. Last year, 41,904 hectares of rice were cultivated in this province. 1 lakh 45 thousand 63 tons of rice was produced from it. Productivity per hectare was 3.46 tonnes in Karnali. This year, the paddy planting area has decreased to 38,763 hectares. According to the ministry, the production is 130 thousand 191 tons and the productivity is limited to 3.27 tons. 

The area planted with rice has also decreased in the Far West. Production and productivity have increased. Last year, rice was cultivated on 156,289 hectares in Far West. 599 thousand 124 tons of rice was produced from that area. This year, the paddy planting area has decreased to 154,660 hectares. Paddy production has increased to 636 thousand 212 tons. Joshi said that the productivity of paddy increased from 3.83 tons to 4.11 tons per hectare. 

  There has been an increase in total rice production in Koshi, Madhesh, Lumbini and Sudurpaschim. The production growth of the remaining three provinces remained negative," said Regmi. "The area planted with paddy in Rukum (West) is less than last year, so the overall production of Karnali has decreased.