Gandaki. So far, 79,838 hectares of land has been planted in Gandaki State. Which is about 85 percent of the area to be planted this year. According to the State Agriculture Development Directorate, 94,182 hectares of land is expected to be planted this year.

According to the latest data, baglung has the highest 95 per cent, Lamjung 93.18 per cent, Kaski 90.01 per cent, Nawalpur 78.70 per cent, Tanahun 88 per cent, Myagdi 86.05 per cent, Syangja 81.84 per cent, Gorkha 78.40 per cent and Parbat 80 per cent.

Manoj Poudel, agriculture economist at the Directorate, said that sowing has been delayed in the areas dependent on water. If the rain permits, the sowing of most of the areas will be completed by next week. Paddy is cultivated in nine districts of the province except Mustang and Manang.

Paddy was cultivated on 96,053 hectares last year, but this year the area under paddy cultivation has decreased. The area under paddy cultivation is shrinking due to rapid urbanization and loss of paddy cultivation. Agriculture economist Poudel said that the productivity of paddy will increase if the area is reduced, irrigation, improvement in farming system, disease control, improved seeds, technology and fertilizer management are done in time.

In Gandaki, savitri, Ramdhan, Jetho budho, Khumal, Sukkha, Ekle, Yellow, Gauria, Manusali, Golden Sugandha and other varieties of paddy are cultivated. Out of 479,617 hectares of cultivable land in the state, paddy is cultivated on about 100,000 hectares of land including Barkhe and Chaite.