Rice Crop Food Security & Self-reliance Intensity
The government has set ‘Intensity in Rice Cultivation: Food Security and Self-reliance’ as the slogan for National Paddy Day, aiming to increase rice production and focus on climate-resilient technologies. Khumaltar is set to host an interaction programme with experts on indigenous crop protection, technology promotion, and climate change mitigation, with a paddy planting festival honoring farmers and a plan to increase rice production. Rice is a crucial food crop in Nepal, influencing economic development and cultural traditions. Since 2004, the National Paddy Day and Transplanting Festival have been celebrated to promote paddy production, modernization, and commercialization, as stated by Director General Sanjel.
The production of rice climbed to 5 million 955 thousand 476 metric tonnes in 2024-25 from 5 million 724 thousand 234 metric tonnes in the fiscal year 2023-24. 1 million 438 thousand 989 hectares of rice were planted in 2023–2024; 1 million 420 thousand 636 hectares were sown in 2024–2025. According to Mahananda Joshi, an information officer at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, the gain in productivity has resulted in an overall increase in rice production, even if the area planted to rice has generally decreased. According to him, the introduction of chemical fertilizers, better seed varieties, and timely rains have all contributed to an increase in rice production.
