Major crops production likely to go up

The Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives (MoAC) has projected production of four national crops paddy, maize, millet and buckwheat worth Rs 141 billion in the fiscal year 2010-11.

"We expect the paddy production to be worth around Rs 89 billion, maize worth Rs 44.65 billion, millet worth Rs 7.56 billion and buckwheat Rs 280 million, making it to a Rs 141 billion," said Dr Hari Dahal, Spokesperson for MoAC that has included buckwheat -- the main source of food in high mountain area -- from this year.

Despite late plantation due to late mansoon and less plantation area -- by five per cent -- high paddy production is expected to increase its contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) to an estimated 7.5 per cent against 6.85 per cent a year ago.

Per-hectare production of paddy has increased to 2.98 tonnes this year, up from 2.71 tonnes last year. Similarly, production area has increased marginally to 1.49 million hectares this year from last year's 1.48 million hectares.

The high yield is attributed to good mansoon -- though late -- subsidised fertilisers and improved seeds.

Paddy production increased by 11 per cent to 4.46 million tonnes this year from 4.02 million tonnes a year ago, he said, adding that the average price of paddy has been fixed by the ministry at Rs 19.5 per kg for this year.

"Though plantation couldn't be possible in over 60,000 hectares of land, paddy production has exceeded our target," Dahal added. "Around five per cent of the total land under paddy cultivation remained barren this year," he said.

The government had distributed over 82,000 tonnes of chemical fertilisers at a subsidised rates and its agencies sold 981 tonnes of improved seeds to farmers during the year.

Similarly, production of maize, millet and buckwheat also witnessed a record this year. The production of Maize increased by 11.45 per cent to 2.67 million tonnes with productivity rising to 2.28 tonnes per hectare from last year's 2.20 tonnes per hectare.

"Production area has also increased to 0.9 million hectares this year from 0.87 million hectares last year," he said, adding that maize contributed around 2.27 per cent to the country's GDP against last year's 2.27 pre cent.

However, production of millet has increased by only one per cent to 302,691 tonnes from last year's 299,523 tonnes.

The total buckwheat production has been recorded at 10,304 tonnes from 8,841 hectares, he said, adding that its productivity was 0.85 tonnes per hectare.