Khairahani Municipality Offers 50% Subsidy on Summer Paddy Seeds

Chitwan. Khairahani Municipality is set to provide a 50 percent subsidy on improved summer paddy seeds to farmers within the municipality. The municipality is providing this subsidy for food crop promotion under the approved program for the current fiscal year.

Agriculture Officer Srijana Shrestha stated that interested farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs have been invited to submit applications by Baisakh 7. According to her, the subsidy will be provided for seven different varieties of coarse and fine paddy seeds. The subsidy is being provided through the federal government's budget. The subsidized paddy varieties include Sukha Dhan-2, Sabitri, Hardinath-5, Hardinath-6, Sawa Mansuli Sub-1, Ramdhan, and Chaite-5.

The municipality has adopted a policy to provide a maximum of 100 kg of seeds per farmer at a rate of two kg per kattha. Farmers wishing to avail of the subsidy must visit the Agriculture Branch in person with a copy of their citizenship and the receipt for the integrated property tax paid for the current fiscal year 2082-83. For farmers cultivating on rented land, the Agriculture Branch has made it mandatory to submit a land lease agreement, a receipt for paid rental tax, and a copy of the landowner's citizenship.

Previously, the municipality also provided a 50 percent subsidy on Chaite paddy seeds. In this municipality, Chaite paddy is cultivated on 2,051 hectares, while summer paddy is cultivated on 3,558 hectares. She informed that there is a budget of Rs 1.075 million for the paddy seed subsidy. The municipality has also been providing subsidies to farmers for agricultural lime, fertilizers, and other materials. Officer Shrestha stated that such programs have been introduced to make the region self-reliant in agriculture and to increase productivity through the use of improved seeds.