Decline in Chaitra Paddy Cultivation in Kanchanpur Due to Irrigation Shortages

Kanchanpur. The number of farmers cultivating Chaitra paddy (spring paddy) in Kanchanpur is decreasing every year. According to data from the Agriculture Knowledge Center Kanchanpur and the Prime Minister's Agricultural Modernization Project Office Kanchanpur, the number of farmers planting Chaitra paddy is declining annually. Due to the lack of irrigation facilities here, Chaitra paddy cultivation, which used to cover 400 hectares, is now only being done on 150 hectares.

Dharma Bahadur Sauda, Assistant Crop Development Officer at the Agriculture Knowledge Center Kanchanpur, stated that cultivation is currently taking place on 150 hectares in Kanchanpur. "We provide farmers with various agricultural equipment and facilities including boring for irrigation," Sauda said, "This requires a lot of irrigation, and because irrigation facilities are not available here, Chaitra paddy cultivation is decreasing."

According to Officer Sauda, although the Knowledge Center has been providing boring facilities for irrigation to farmers at a 50 percent subsidy, it has not been sufficient for adequate irrigation. The Agriculture Knowledge Center Kanchanpur also provides support to farmers with seeds, fertilizers, irrigation, and plowing equipment under the Chaitra Paddy Cultivation Promotion Program.

"Chaitra paddy yields more than other paddy varieties," Officer Sauda said, "Farmers also receive technical support from here." Although Chaitra paddy yields more compared to other varieties, farmers here complain that they cannot cultivate it due to a lack of irrigation. "The yield is good, but it requires a lot of water; there are not enough irrigation facilities here," said local farmer Khushiram Chaudhary, "Water is not available in the Mahakali Irrigation Canal during Chaitra-Baishakh, and the water from boring is not enough for Chaitra paddy."

He mentioned that he stopped planting Chaitra paddy because the fields were left barren due to irrigation issues. Another farmer, Pallavraj Joshi, states that besides the lack of irrigation, stray animals also cause significant problems for cultivation. "If irrigation arrangements were made, Chaitra paddy would be most suitable for us," he said, "During the time Chaitra paddy needs water, there is drought here."

The Paddy Zone Office of the Prime Minister's Agricultural Modernization Project has also reported that paddy cultivation in Kanchanpur is not meeting its targets. Kanchanpur has a total arable land area of 161,741 hectares. Of this, cultivation is done on 59,602 hectares, which is 36 percent. Irrigation facilities are available on only 29 percent of this area. Paddy cultivation is done on 48,600 hectares in Kanchanpur.

Currently, irrigation facilities are available on 11,600 hectares in Kanchanpur through the first and second phases of the Mahakali Irrigation Project. Through the first phase of the Mahakali Irrigation, completed in 2048 BS (started in 2042 BS), irrigation facilities reached 4,800 hectares, and through the second phase, completed in 2052 BS, facilities reached 6,800 hectares. Irrigation from the first and second phases covers areas in Bhimdatta and Bedkot Municipalities and Beldandi Rural Municipality here.