BHOJPUR, Dec 21 : Paddy production in Bhojpur district has declined this year, largely due to erratic weather conditions, officials said.
According to the Agriculture Knowledge Centre, inadequate rainfall during the sowing season followed by unseasonal rains later damaged crops, leading to a drop in overall output. The district produced 36,998 metric tons of paddy this year, down from 37,790 metric tons last year.
Plantation completed in 50% of paddy fields in 14 districts
The area under paddy cultivation also shrank, from 12,154 hectares last year to 11,500 hectares this year. Unseasonal rainfall partially or completely damaged paddy planted on around 78 hectares, the centre said.
Paddy is grown across the district’s lowlands and valleys in all local levels, with some fertile valleys producing two paddy crops annually. However, timely sowing was disrupted this season due to delayed monsoon rains, while flooding in certain areas further destroyed standing crops, said Ghanashyam Baral, information officer at the Agriculture Knowledge Centre.
