Chitwan: Hybrid varieties of paddy have been planted in the trial paddy fields of Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, in Chitwan district with the support of the government of China. Thirty-six hybrid varieties of paddy developed by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science in Chongqing have been planted as a pilot in the presence of the Chinese Ambassador to Nepal, Chen Song. Additionally, one variety of rice developed in Nepal, along with eight other popular varieties of paddy, were also planted.
According to National News Agency Nepal, at a programme organised today, Mayor of Bharatpur Metropolitan City, Renu Dahal, shared that the rice varieties were planted as per the agreement made during the China visit of the then Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’. She mentioned that this project would prove a milestone for Bharatpur metropolis and the country in coming days, adding that hybrid varieties of rice would be expanded across the country to help increase paddy production.
Similarly, Chinese Ambassador Song said that China, which considered these varieties of rice a 70-year achievement, gifted the seeds to Nepal. He expressed the belief that these varieties would help boost Nepal’s paddy production in the future.
Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof Dr Sharada Thapaliya, noted that this project has been successful with the assistance of the Chinese government, Bharatpur metropolitan city, different organisations, and experts. University Registrar Pushkar Bahadur Pal and Country Director of the China Foundation for Rural Development in Nepal, Zou Zhiqiang, among others, also expressed their views on the occasion. Currently, only one hybrid variety of seeds has been produced and planted in Nepal.