Nepal paddy production projected to grow to record 5.4 MMT, despite massive floods.

The government has projected paddy production to grow by 2 MMT to a record high of 5.4 MMT in the current fiscal year despite massive floods in country’s southern plains in the paddy transplantation season. Paddy production was expected drop sharply in the current fiscal year in the aftermath of massive floods in eastern and central Tarai districts in the second week of August. However, the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MoAD) has said that paddy production has not been affected by the floods. Earlier, the ministry said that the floods have affected paddy crop in 198,698 hectare of land. However, the ministry has said that the target of 5.4 MMT of paddy production is now gettable. This also indicates that economic growth target of 7.2% for Fiscal Year 2017/18 is achievable.