Rains inflict 30 percent loss to paddy crops output in Chitwan

KATHMANDU, October 21: Incessant rains that occurred in the country for the past few days have inflicted 30 percent loss to the expected paddy crops output in Chitwan. 

The rainfall with the wind storm caused damage to paddies that were ready for harvest. Only 20 percent of the paddy planted was harvested in the district before the unseasonal rains ruined the crops. 

According to Planning Officer of Agriculture Knowledge Center Bharatpur Umaraj Aryal, almost 50 percent of the paddy planted in east Chitwan, including Madi, was already harvested. Only 10 percent of paddy cultivated in Bharatpur metropolis was harvested, according to the preliminary assessment. 

This year Chitwan district alone saw the plantation of paddy in 27,305 hectares of land. Last year paddy was cultivated in 27,305 hectares and total output was 103,416 metric tons. 

If previous data is something to go by, the paddy production per hectare was 3.8 metric tons.