Nepal, July 1 -- Although Nepal is often referred to as an agricultural country, the agricultural land has been shrinking every year. In recent times, land suitable for paddy plantation has been decreasing annually. This is certain to have an impact on overall agricultural production.

According to a study, Nepal's agricultural land is shrinking at a rate of 1.75 percent annually. Every year, arable land is turning barren, and over time, these barren lands are gradually converting into forest areas. With the growing trend of rural-to-urban migration, villages are becoming increasingly depopulated. In some places, entire villages have become deserted. These abandoned settlements are slowly transforming into forest zones and such areas are ...