4,000 hectares of paddy field inundated

Kathmandu - Continuous rainfall has inundated some 4,000 hectares of paddy crop in Saptari and Siraha districts. The rainfall that began soon after the paddy plantation has submerged around 2,000 hectares each in the two districts, according to the Agriculture Knowledge Centre, Rajbiraj.

The two districts had recorded completion of 90 to 95 per cent of paddy plantation this year. However, a significant area now remains submerged in rainwater. Tilathi Koiladi, Chinnamasta, Rajgadh, Bishnupur, Balan Bihul rural municipalities and Hanumannagar, Kankalini, Dakanewswar and Saptari municipalities have seen paddy fields being inundated.

Likewise, in Siraha, flood waters from the Kamala and Mainawati rivers have submerged paddy fields in Bhagwanpur, Nawarajpur, Bariyapatti, Aurahi, Siraha and other areas in the Nepal-India bordering region.

The paddy crop could survive if there is no additional rainfall but continuous rainfall will lead to the growing of rotten grains, said agro economist at the centre Kishan Raut. Paddy has been cultivated in 62,800 hectares of land in Saptari and 54,000 hectares in Siraha.