Jumla Farmers Busy with Marshi Paddy Cultivation

Jumla. Farmers here have started busy with Marshi paddy cultivation for this season. Local Laxmi Kumai of Chandannath Municipality informed that farmers in all eight local levels here are busy cultivating Marshi paddy. She said that due to the high market demand for Marshi rice in recent times, farmers' attraction towards farming has increased. Marshi paddy is produced only in Jumla. Vice-chairperson of the rural municipality Janamaya Rokaya said that the cultivation of Kali and Red Marshi paddy has been completed in Chhumchaur of Patarasi Rural Municipality, where paddy is grown at the highest altitude in the world. The Chandannath-Bhairavnath Guthi Management Committee has informed that Marshi cultivation has been completed in Shera Jyulo, which is in the name of the famous Chandannath and Bhairavnath temples of the district. Paddy cultivation is done in two thousand 888 hectares of land in the district. Of which, 1,068 hectares of land produces Jumli Marshi paddy, informed Chief of the Agriculture Development Office Rambhakt Adhikari. He informed that about 175 metric tons of Jumli Marshi paddy rice was sold outside the district from November last year to the end of February, earning Rs 35 million. Chief Adhikari expressed confidence that the production of Jumli Marshi paddy, which has been cultivated traditionally, will be fruitful if the use of technology is increased. According to him, the Agricultural Research Center has recommended planting Chandannath-1 and 3 varieties of paddy in various areas here to prevent pest infection. Chief Adhikari of the Agriculture Development Office informed that preparations are underway to recommend Marshi-18, 20, and 22 varieties of paddy after conducting various studies and research. He said that the center is working with a plan to increase production along with this.