KATHMANDU: Rice production is projected to decline by 4.20 percent this year compared to the last year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development. The Ministry stated that paddy production is likely to decrease by 250,350 metric tons this year.

According to the Ministry’s Information Officer, Mahananda Joshi, the estimated rice production this year stands at 5,705,126 metric tons, down from 5,955,476 metric tons last year, representing a decline of 4.20 percent.

Last year, paddy cultivation covered 1,420,636 hectares of land, which has decreased by 3.8 percent this year to 1,376,872 hectares.

Factors such as youth migration, a shift toward fruit farming and cash crops, movement of people to urban areas, land industrialization, and the construction of physical infrastructure have contributed to the reduction in paddy cultivation.

In addition, drought during the paddy planting season, particularly in Madhesh Province, led to a decrease in the area. Joshi added that despite the availability of hybrid seeds and fertilizers, adverse weather conditions negatively affected the planting season.