The Nepali government has estimated that production of paddy, which occupies more than half a share in principal food crops, will go down in the fiscal year 2005-06, ended in mid-July.

This downfall in paddy production was attributed to drought coupled with untimely rainfall and snowfall, especially during October 2005, a government report stated Wednesday.

According to the report published by the ministry of finance, in the fiscal year 2005-06, production of paddy crops was estimated to have declined by 1.88 percent from 4.29 million tons to 4.209 million tons as compared to the preceding fiscal year.

At the initial stages of paddy plantation, there was no rainfall. However, it rained a lot in the harvesting season affecting the production of paddy in the fiscal year, agronomist at Nepal Agricultural Research Council Bhola Man Singh Basnet said.

The production of maize was estimated to increase in the year 2005-06 by 1.07 percent to 1.734 million tons as compared to previous year's production of 1.716 million tons.

Areas under maize crop cultivation and production rate were expected to have a gradual increment of 0.12 percent and 0.95 percent respectively, in the year 2005-06.

Production of wheat was also estimated to see a decline in production. It was estimated to come down to a level of 1.394 million tons with a net decline by 3.35 percent compared to the previous fiscal year.

The main reasons for such a decline in the production of wheat for the first time in five years was attributed to the lack of winter rainfall, reduction in cultivable land area and lack of supply of farm tools and materials, the government report stated.

Similarly, the production of barley was projected to decline by a 4.55 percent.

Source: Xinhua