SATV March 28, Kathmandu: The area of cultivation of chaite paddy in Dhanusha is increasing every year.
The area under chaite paddy cultivation in the district is increasing as farmers' interest in chaite paddy cultivation due to increased production and other reasons.
Local farmers said that they have been increasing the area of cultivation of chaite paddy as it yields more than seasonal paddy, is comparatively less susceptible to diseases and pests, and has suitable irrigation facilities.
Munaji Yadav, a farmer of Haripur in Dhanushadham Municipality-6, Dhanusha, said that farmers here are currently busy planting chaite paddy.
Stating that farmers are preparing the fields left vacant after harvesting wheat, he said that the number of farmers planting paddy in this season has increased significantly compared to three or four years ago.
He said, “Till three or four years ago, only a few farmers here used to plant chaite paddy. Now, the number of farmers planting chaite paddy has increased along with the area. It is not possible to say how many bighas have been cultivated with paddy, but chaite paddy is planted in most of the fields here.”
According to him, farmers have built small tube wells with their own investment for irrigation.
"If fertilisers are easily available, paddy seeds are available at subsidised rates, and government support is received for irrigation, the area and production of chaite paddy will increase further," he said.
Rishi Lama, Ward Chairman of Dhanushadham Municipality-6, said that chaite paddy has been planted in a larger area this year compared to previous years.
Similarly, chaite paddy has been planted on time in double the area this year in Mithila Municipality-11, Tulasi, northern part of the district, which is considered fertile for chaite paddy production.
Local farmer Prem Bahadur Karki said that farmers here have planted paddy on time through canals from the Ratu River.
He said that despite the lack of adequate irrigation facilities, chaite paddy has been planted in Chure, Bahunmara and Bismwar through canals from the Ratu River, which continues to flow water round the year.
Sanjay Kumar Mahata, Chief of the Agriculture Branch of Mithila Municipality, said that the municipality has provided improved seeds at a 50 per cent subsidy to increase chaite paddy cultivation.
Ram Chandra Yadav, Chief of the Agricultural Knowledge Centre, Dhanusha, said that chaite paddy cultivation has been expanding in the district in the last few years.
He said that Mithila, Dhanushadham, Kshireshwornath, Sabaila and other municipalities in the district are suitable places for chaite paddy cultivation.
He said that chaite paddy is being planted in some places and the plantation season is still left, it is not possible to say exactly how many hectares have in the district have gone to chaite paddy plantation.
But it is estimated that chaite paddy will be planted in more than 5,000 hectares of land, he said.
