Asar 15 following the Nepali calendar is known in Nepal as the rice/paddy day and farmers celebrate this Ropai (rice plantation) festival planting paddy seedling and enjoying flattened rice with yogurt.This day has been recognized by government as national paddy day and the government of Nepal also organizes program where ministers and high ranking government officers attend the paddy seedling program.
Govt. of Nepal has considered Ashar 15 as National Paddy Day from 2004 and this year it marked its 10th Anniversary but ANPFa has been celebrating this occasion since a long. While the country was observing National Paddy Day today, farmers in Ramechhap and Rautahat were in despair, as they could not sow rice seeds due to prolonged drought. Paddy plantation normally ends in these districts within the first week of the Nepali month of Asar. Unfortunately, farmers have not been able to even sow the seeds due to the dry spell.The government is launching “paddy mission program” through the upcoming budget in a bid to increase paddy production.
