Kailali. The production of paddy has decreased in Kailali this year. The production of paddy has decreased by 5.26 per cent this year compared to last year.

Information Officer at Agriculture Knowledge Centre, Durga Prasad Ojha, said paddy production had decreased by 17,135 metric tonnes this year compared to last year. Paddy was planted in 68,541 hectares of land this year and 308,434 metric tonnes of paddy was produced, he said.

According to him, 325,569 metric tonnes of paddy was produced in the same area last year. The productivity of paddy has also decreased this year as compared to last year. Last year, the productivity of paddy was 4.75 metric tons per hectare while this year it is 4.5 metric tons per hectare, he said.

“Though the area is the same, paddy production has decreased this year as compared to last year,” Information Officer Ojha said, adding, “It did not rain when the paddy needed and it rained during the time of flowering, which affected the production.” ’

Similarly, maize was produced in 6,461 hectares of land in the district this year, while 154 metric tons of millet was produced in 103 hectares of land, according to Agriculture Knowledge Centre.