KATHMANDU: With the monsoon gaining momentum, rice plantations across the country are progressing steadily. As of Sunday, paddy cultivation has reached 38.6 percent, covering 539,766 hectares of land across all seven provinces.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Sudur Paschim Province has the highest rice plantation percentage at 54.2 percent, while Madhes has the lowest at 25.5 percent. The plantation percentages in other provinces as of July 7 are as follows: Koshi at 34.4 percent, Bagmati at 40.2 percent, Gandaki at 49.7 percent, Lumbini at 44.4 percent, and Karnali at 47.5 percent.

Overall, rice is cultivated on a total of 1,398,273 hectares of land nationwide, with the largest area in Madhes Province covering 383,150 hectares and the smallest in Karnali at 41,904 hectares.

As of July 9 last year, the country had witnessed 42.9 percent rice plantation, the data shows.

Annually, Nepal produces an average of 5,700,000 metric tons of rice, while the demand stands at 6,200,000 metric tons, according to the Department's information officer, Tilak Raj Chaulagain. -- RSS