July 31: As of July 28, the rice transplantation rate in the country stands at 77 percent, according to the Agriculture Information and Training Center.

This marks a decrease compared to the corresponding period last year when 90 percent of rice cultivation had already been completed.

Across the country, paddy has been planted in a total area of 1,053,404 hectares out of 1,357,816 hectares as of the last week of July.

In Koshi Province, the rice cultivation rate is currently at 84 percent, which is a slight drop from 88 percent during the same period last year. Rice transplantation has taken place on 275,133 hectares of land in the province this year.

Rice has been cultivated in 209,086 hectares, accounting for 59 percent of the total 354,383 arable land in Madhes Province. This is lower than the figure reported during the same period last year, which was 83 percent.

In Bagmati Province, the rice cultivation rate currently stands at 72 percent, a significant decrease from 93 percent during the same period last year. The province has reported rice transplantation on 81,420 hectares out of the total 113,083 hectares of land suitable for rice cultivation.

 Out of the total 104,622 hectares of arable land, paddy transplantation has taken place in 85,790 hectares so far (82 percent) in Gandaki Province. This represents a decrease from 96 percent during the same period last year.

In Lumbini Province, paddy cultivation has been completed in 243,318 hectares of the total 300,392 hectares (81 percent). This is a decrease from 85 percent last year.

Karnali Province has reported the paddy transplantation in 32,918 hectares of the total 38,727 hectares (85 percent), showing an increase from 78 percent last year.

In Sudurpaschim Province, paddy plantation has been completed in 169,761 hectares out of a total of 171,476 hectares (99 percent). The same percentage of paddy cultivation took place during the same period last year, according to the Centre.

Overall, the country's rice transplantation progress is at 77 percent, with some provinces experiencing better results than others compared to the same period last year.

The Agriculture Information and Training Center is closely monitoring the situation as the rice cultivation season continues. (RSS)