Jhapa: The Food Management and Trade Company (FMTC) Limited is set to purchase 50,000 quintals of paddy in the Jhapa district. The support price for paddy has been established at Rs. 3,580.62 per quintal, as stated by Chulmaya Lowa, Chief of the FMTC office in Birtamod.
According to National News Agency Nepal, FMTC’s procurement will begin with 15,000 quintals of Sonamansuli and 5,000 quintals of Ranjitmansuli paddy in its initial phase. Overall, the company plans to procure at least 50,000 quintals from the district’s farmers. The support price determined by FMTC is reportedly higher than the prevailing market rate for paddy.
This year, Jhapa district has recorded a production of 385,196.5 metric tons of paddy. Despite a reduction in the area of paddy plantation compared to previous years, production has increased. The Agriculture Knowledge Centre, Jhapa, reports a notable increase in paddy yield, which was cultivated over 75,459 hectares, achieving a productivity rate of 5.10 metric tons per hectare.
Ch
etraj Bhandari, the information officer at the Agriculture Knowledge Centre, attributed the production surge to favorable weather conditions, the availability of fertilizers, and the use of quality and advanced paddy seeds. This year’s paddy production has increased by 8,791 metric tons compared to the previous year.