Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Production of food grains and other crops declined by 6.76% in the first six months of the current fiscal year 2025/26, according to the latest study on economic activities released by the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB).
In the same period of the previous fiscal year, production of food grains and other crops had increased by 1.77%.
Paddy remained the largest contributor to total food grain and crop production in the review period, accounting for 37.46% of the overall output. Maize and wheat followed with shares of 20.43% and 10.75%, respectively.
According to the study, paddy productivity declined slightly compared to the previous year. In contrast, vegetable and horticulture production increased by 1.02%, although the growth was slower than the 3.66% expansion recorded a year earlier.
Fruit production posted a stronger growth of 6.51% compared to a 3.76% increase in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year.
Spice production, however, fell by 5.70%, though the decline was less severe than the 17.94% contraction recorded a year earlier.
The report showed that food grain and crop production declined in all provinces except Karnali. Vegetable and horticulture output increased in Madhesh, Bagmati and Lumbini provinces, while fruit production rose in Madhesh, Gandaki and Sudurpashchim provinces. Spice production increased only in Gandaki and Lumbini provinces.
Koshi Province accounted for the largest share of the country’s paddy production at 25.76%, while Karnali contributed the smallest share at 2.54%. Koshi also had the highest share of overall food grain and crop production at 27.26%, compared with just 5.52% in Karnali.
The study also showed a decline in land cultivated for food grains and other crops. The area covered by such crops shrank by 4.21% in the first half of the current fiscal year, following a 2.92% decline in the same period last year.
Paddy occupied the largest share of cultivated land at 36.82%, followed by maize at 23.46% and wheat at 14.22%. Millet accounted for 5.58% of the total area, while barley covered 0.39% of cultivated fields.
Land under vegetable and horticulture cultivation expanded by 9.10%, while the area covered by fruit crops increased by 0.79%. In contrast, land used for spice cultivation contracted by 6.66%.
Province-wise, the area under food grains and other crops increased only in Bagmati and Karnali provinces. Madhesh Province held the largest share of land used for vegetable and horticulture cultivation at 32.24%, while Koshi accounted for the largest share of land under spice cultivation at 40.13%.
The NRB study highlights a mixed performance in the agricultural sector, with gains in fruit and vegetable production offset by a significant decline in food grain output, raising concerns about overall crop productivity and cultivated area during the first half of the fiscal year.
