Kathmandu-The 23rd National Paddy Day and Rice Planting Festival 2083 was celebrated in Khumaltar, Lalitpur, on Sunday with demonstrations of modern agricultural technology, including drone-based fertilizer broadcasting and machine-assisted rice planting.

The event, organized by the National Crop Research Center and the Crop Development and Agricultural Biodiversity Conservation Center under the slogan 'Climate-friendly technology, self-sufficiency in paddy, and prosperity,' showcased Nepal's growing focus on agricultural modernization.

Coordinator of the House of Representatives' Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, Ashok Kumar Chaudhary, inaugurated the festival by operating a drone to broadcast fertilizer over paddy fields. Addressing the gathering, he said the government is committed to making Nepal self-reliant in food grains by supporting farmers through fair minimum support prices, improved irrigation facilities, technological advancement, agricultural insurance, and youth engagement in farming.

'Today is a day to honour the agricultural profession and the farmers. Without production, the country, markets, and economy cannot function. We need to identify and address the real problems faced by farmers,' Chaudhary said, emphasizing that farmers' hard work and contribution must be respected.

National Planning Commission member Dr. Devendra Gauchan stressed the need for structural reforms in agriculture despite improvements in policy. He highlighted stronger coordination between farmers and research institutions and called for greater focus on developing climate-resilient and nutrient-rich rice varieties.

Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forests and Environment, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Mishra, expressed concern over the decline in cultivable land due to rapid urbanization and land plotting. He said increasing rice productivity through improved pesticide management, expanded irrigation, mechanization, and better production practices is essential to strengthening Nepal's food supply chain.

Director General of the Department of Agriculture, Prakash Kumar Sanjel, said the department is working to address farmers' concerns, improve irrigation facilities, and finalize policies related to the minimum support price for paddy.

Acting Executive Director of the Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC), Dr. Shreemat Shrestha, said the council is prioritizing the development of high-yielding, drought-resistant, and flood-tolerant rice varieties as agricultural land continues to shrink. He, however, noted that limited funding remains a major obstacle to developing advanced agricultural technologies.

Dr. Homnath Bhandari, International Coordinator for Nepal and Bangladesh at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), highlighted the importance of research and innovation, including gene technology, to improve productivity, reduce labour requirements, enhance farmers' capacity, and promote low-carbon rice production.

Presenting a paper on 'Self-Reliance in Paddy and Rice: Current Status, Problems, Challenges, and Future Directions,' Keshav Devkota, Chief of the Crop Development and Agricultural Biodiversity Conservation Center, said Nepal's annual paddy production is valued at around Rs. 200 billion and contributes about four percent to the national GDP. He added that 140 rice varieties have been developed and efforts are underway to strengthen irrigation and boost production.

Dr. Tek Gotame, Director of the Crops and Horticulture Section at NARC, said the council is implementing programmes aimed at replacing rice imports by developing climate-friendly and disease-resistant rice varieties.

The programme also recognized outstanding spring-season rice producers, organizations promoting indigenous rice varieties, scientists contributing to rice research, rice mills, rice production zones, community rice nurseries, and agricultural journalists for their contributions to Nepal's rice sector.