With two weeks left in July, 84 percent planting has been done across the country. At this time, the planting in the Far West is almost finished. In Madhesh, which is known as a granary, only about half i.e. 57.28 percent has been planted. Although the monsoon was active on time, the planting was delayed this time due to lack of rain in the districts of Madhesh.

Barkhe paddy is planted in 13 lakh 78 thousand 966 hectares across the country. The Center for Crop Development and Agricultural Biodiversity Conservation has informed that 83.88 percent i.e. 11 lakh 56 thousand 687.8 hectares have been planted till July 18. According to the Center, till 20th July 2081, paddy planting was 96.47 percent. This time, due to the drought in Madhesh, only 83.88 percent of the country has been sown.

2 lakh 13 thousand 438 hectares have been planted in Madhesh. It is 57.28 percent. In this province, 372 thousand 645 hectares of rice are planted. By July 20, 2081, 95 percent planting was done. 

Due to the drought, bad seeds have burned in some places, are drying up in some places, wells and boreholes have dried up and there is also a shortage of drinking water in Madhesh, said Mukund Bhusal, a senior crop development officer of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development who prepared a report. The paddy crop was badly affected as the paddy field was not irrigated and the paddy field was torn. He said that due to the decrease in underground water level, problems such as small water coming from borings are seen in Madhesh. 

Due to the drought, the government has already declared Madhesh as a crisis. It has announced a program to hold 500 deep borings in Madheshka district. But the implementation has been delayed. Due to this, the experts say that there has been a decrease in planting. Farmers are excited after it started raining in Madhesh for the past few days.

There has also been a general improvement in paddy planting in Madhesh. Center head Keshav Devkota said that 20 thousand 322 hectares were planted here in one week. Till July 11, 2082, 1 lakh 93 thousand 116 hectares were planted in Madhesh. According to the Center, till July 18, 20 thousand 322 hectares were planted and reached 2 lakh 13 thousand 438 hectares. 

The Center seeks the details of planting from the Ministry of Agriculture under the state. The provincial ministry requests the details of planting from the Directorate of Agricultural Development, Agricultural Knowledge Center and the center from the Municipal-Village Corporation. Based on this, the center has provided the details of planting. There is an improvement in the last planting. Even in Madhesh, if it rains continuously for a few days, planting will be good," said Devkota. But experts say that late planting will cause some reduction in production and productivity. The Ministry of Agriculture is also confident that rice production will decrease this year and imports will increase. 

In the financial year 2081/82, the data of the customs department has the import of 5337 million 15 thousand 259 kg of rice and rice seeds. 21 billion 52 million 27 million rupees have been spent while importing this quantity. 24 million 15 million 53 thousand 325 kg of rice worth 18 billion 66 million 59 million rupees has been imported. This time, the ministry expects to increase more.  According to the data of

center, along with Madhesh, there has been less planting in Koshi and Karnali. 89 percent planting has been done in Koshi. Barkhe paddy is planted in 276 thousand 386 hectares in Koshi. Last year, 95 percent planting was done by July 20. 88.97 percent planting has been done in Gandaki. In Gandaki province, 94 thousand 182 hectares of rice are planted.