March 13: Sudurpaschim Province has witnessed rise in production and productivity of agriculture sector in the last few years. Agriculture sector saw its production increased after farmers started commercial farming.

Director Yagyaraj Joshi at the Agriculture Directorate Dipayal Office said that agricultural production had surged by two percent. “Agricultural production has risen by 2 percent while fruit production has also gone up remarkably,” said Joshi.

According to the data at Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture, and Cooperative, major food crops were cultivated in 3,16,789 hectares of the land in fiscal year 2074/75 BS compared to 3,63,793 hectares of the land in the fiscal year of 2078/79.

Productivity of the food crops has increased from 2.7 metric tons per hectare to 3.7 metric tons per hectare. Production of paddy and wheat has surged by 3.5 percent.

Under seed increase programme, seeds of paddy, wheat, maize, potato, vegetables, and mustard oil are being produced in the province. Seed increase programme is being run to increase the seeds of vegetables and food items through Farmers’ Group and Farmers’ Cooperative to make the province self-dependent by replacing the import.

Eighteen seed processing and companies have been set up in Kailali, Dadeldhura, Baitadi and Kanchanpur districts, helping the marketing of seeds.  Produced seeds are being exported to various districts.

More than 4,491 families have been provided with power tillers, mini-tillers, rotavators, among others, on 50 percent grants. Farmers’ group and Farmer Cooperative have rented 74 bigaha land of Rastriya Aabash Company Limited and have been producing seeds of paddy, wheat, and mustard oil.