Rice production decreases in Sarlahi

Rice production in Sarlahi decreased this year and it is due to lack of timely rainfall. According to the Agriculture Knowledge Centre in Sarlahi, the absence of timely rainfall has adversely affected the rice production this time.

Crop diseases, and pesticide-related issues are other factors leading to a decline in rice production in Sarlahi this year.

Farmer Ruplal Chaudhary of Jabdi of Lalbandi municipality-3 said this time he was disappointed over the rice production. “We are not paid off for our hard work and investment.” He said he spent Rs 10,000 alone for irrigation for paddy planted on six katha of land (one kattha is equivalent to 3,645 sq. ft).

Last year, the district saw the production of 164,145 metric tons of rice. However, this year, farmers observed a significant decrease, with production ranging from just two maunds (approximately 38 kgs) per land plot, compared to five maunds last year.

Centre’s Chief Devanand Ray Yadav said the area where the irrigation facility is available, the production is satisfactory, whereas rain-fed regions experienced a decline. Some areas also reported the disease and pesticides issues affecting the production. According to official data, paddy cultivation spans around 46,500 hectares of land in Sarlahi.

Farmers without reliable irrigations facilities resorted to using water pumping systems or containers for irrigation during rice transplantation due to the delayed onset of rains and it caused increased farming costs.