Nepal, Jan. 26 -- With domestic rice production failing to keep pace with demand and imports continuing to rise, the government has moved to expand Chaite (spring) paddy cultivation in a bid to achieve self-sufficiency. The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD) has announced plans to roll out a Chaite rice promotion program across 22 districts of Madhesh Province.

As part of the initiative, the MoALD has allocated Rs 330 million for building irrigation infrastructure, a key requirement for Chaite rice farming. Officials estimate that the program could add as much as 1.2 million metric tons to national rice output.

The government has placed Chaite rice expansion at the center of its strategy to boost overall rice pro...