Birgunj. Paddy production in Parsa is expected to fall by about 20 per cent this year due to drought-hit problems.

According to agriculture knowledge centre Parsa, paddy production is expected to fall by 10 to 20 percent this year as compared to the previous fiscal year due to drought in Madhes province and delayed rainfall and planting of hidden saplings.

Umesh Thapa, information officer and crop protection officer at the Agriculture Knowledge Centre, Parsa, said paddy sowing in Parsa this year would have a direct impact on production.

“On the one hand, there was a shortage of water in the fields due to prolonged drought. On the other hand, there is a high possibility of ‘blast’ disease infection in the paddy crop due to the delayed planting of paddy due to hidden planting,” he said. It will have some impact on productivity. ’

According to the Agriculture Knowledge Centre, 98 per cent of the 37,731 hectares of paddy sown area in Parsa has been completed so far. Last year, 233,000 metric tons of paddy was grown here.