Nepal, Aug. 18 -- Paddy plantation has been completed on 94.15 percent of rice fields across the country as of mid-August this year, down from 98.44 percent during the same period of the last Fiscal Year (FY).

The decline in plantation is attributed to the prolonged drought in the Terai region and erratic rainfall in many parts of the country. According to the Department of Agriculture (DoA), Sudurpaschim Province recorded the highest rate of paddy plantation at 99.72 percent, while Madhesh Province saw the lowest at 86.35 percent.

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Prakash Sanjel, director general of the DoA, said the slow plantation in Madhesh Province was due to the delayed monsoon this year. C...