Janakpurdham. Madhes Province, which is considered fertile and leading for wheat production, has seen a decline in wheat production this year.

According to the Directorate of Agriculture of Madhes Province, 543,160 metric tonnes of wheat has been produced in 3732 hectares of land this year at the rate of 1.8 metric tonnes per hectare.

Last year, 731,000 metric tonnes of wheat was produced in 178,433 hectares of land at the rate of 3.37 metric tonnes per hectare. This year, Dhanusha produced the highest 98,490 metric tonnes of wheat in 33,500 hectares of land at the rate of 2.94 metric tonnes per hectare, said Kiran Bishwakarma, horticulture development officer at the Madhes Province Agriculture Directorate.

According to Horticulture Development Officer Bishwakarma, 52,741 metric tonnes per hectare has been produced in 17,292 hectares in Rautahat, 69,596 metric tonnes per hectare in Sarlahi at the rate of 2.54 metric tonnes per hectare and 72,800 metric tonnes in Mahottari at the rate of 2.6 metric tonnes per hectare in 27,000 hectares.

Similarly, 82,320 metric tonnes per hectare has been produced in 29,400 hectares in Saptari, 71,920 metric tonnes per hectare in Bara at the rate of 2.48 metric tonnes per hectare, 59,852 metric tonnes per hectare in Parsa at the rate of 2.6 metric tonnes per hectare in 23,020 hectares and 35,441 metric tonnes in Siraha at the rate of 2.51 metric tonnes per hectare in 14,176.48 hectares.

According to Madhes Province Agriculture Directorate Director Jitendra Yadav, adverse weather conditions, pests and lack of irrigation and quality seeds contributed to the decline in wheat production this year.