Support price of paddy fixed in Jhapa

BHADRAPUR (JHAPA), DECEMBER 5: The Food Management and Trade Company (FMTC) Limited is set to purchase 50,000 quintals of paddy from farmers in Jhapa district. The company has announced a support price of Rs. 3,580.62 per quintal, which is higher than the current market rate, according to Chulmaya Lowa, Chief of FMTC’s Birtamod office.

In the initial phase, FMTC will buy 15,000 quintals of Sonamansuli and 5,000 quintals of Ranjitmansuli paddy. Overall, the company aims to procure at least 50,000 quintals of paddy from the district’s farmers.

This year, Jhapa district reported a production of 385,196.5 metric tons of paddy, despite a reduction in the total plantation area compared to previous years. According to the Agriculture Knowledge Centre in Jhapa, paddy was cultivated on 75,459 hectares of land, yielding an average productivity of 5.10 metric tons per hectare. This marks an increase in production by 8,791 metric tons compared to last year.

Information Officer Chetraj Bhandari attributed the rise in production to favorable weather conditions, the availability of fertilizers, and the use of high-quality, advanced paddy seeds. These factors have contributed to the district's impressive agricultural performance this year.

The FMTC's initiative is expected to benefit farmers by offering a better price for their produce, further supporting the region's agricultural growth.