In his message, President Paudel expressed concern over Nepal’s increasing reliance on imported rice and paddy. He underscored the importance of adopting climate-smart technologies and making use of domestic human resources to foster self-reliance in agriculture.
The President’s House at Shital Niwas in Kathmandu buzzed with festive spirit on Sunday as President Ramchandra Paudel and First Lady Sabita Paudel joined in a ceremonial rice planting event to mark National Paddy Day. The symbolic transplantation, part of a nationwide celebration, highlighted the cultural and economic significance of paddy cultivation in Nepal.
Inaugurating the ceremony, President Paudel emphasized the urgent need to modernise and commercialise agriculture, calling it a critical step toward national development and food security. “I participated symbolically in the plantation to promote a culture of respect for all kinds of labour, including agriculture, and to encourage rice production,” he said.
The Head of State also paid tribute to the contributions of farmers across the country, stating, “Farmers, who are engaged in agriculture and are striving to introduce it as a pillar of employment, should be honoured as food producers.”
In his National Paddy Day message, President Paudel expressed concern over Nepal’s increasing reliance on imported rice and paddy. He underscored the importance of adopting climate-smart technologies and making use of domestic human resources to foster self-reliance in agriculture. “May the Day today encourage us to work for reducing imports, assuring food security and promoting the culture of respecting agricultural labour by adopting climate-smart technology in paddy yielding,” he said.
The President further stated that cultivating uncultivated land and expanding food technology related to rice are essential for reversing import trends and building resilience in the agricultural sector. He reiterated the constitutional right of every citizen to food and described enhanced paddy production as crucial to upholding that right and avoiding future food crises.
Food Security and Self-reliance
This year’s National Paddy Day in Nepal is being celebrated under the theme: “Intensity in Paddy Production: Food Security and Self-reliance”. First observed officially in 2062 BS, the day has grown into a significant event blending tradition with a call for sustainable agricultural reform.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, currently abroad, also extended his best wishes through a special message. Reflecting on his childhood memories of planting rice, the Prime Minister wrote, “Today is Asar 15 – a festival to acknowledge our production and diligence. The paddy day represents our time-honoured tradition of paddy plantation, where the fragrance of life is realized with soil; a worship of sweat with water and a dream of yielding rice grains.”
He noted the government’s ongoing efforts to modernize agriculture through new technologies. “Let us engage our efforts to boost production by devising modern and technology-intensive measures in agriculture,” his message read.
Across Nepal, citizens celebrated Asar 15, also known as National Paddy Day, by planting rice, singing folk songs, playing in the mud, and enjoying the traditional dish of dahi chiura (curd and beaten rice), believed to cool the body and replenish energy. The practice, rooted in both Ayurvedic and cultural traditions, symbolizes harmony between human labour and nature.
Despite the enthusiasm, the Ministry of Agriculture acknowledged that some regions faced delays in plantation due to inadequate rainfall and fertilizer shortages, though it insisted that sufficient fertilizer stock is available.
The day’s events served not only as a cultural celebration but also as a national reminder of the pressing need to increase domestic production, reduce imports, and secure the nation’s food future through innovation, technology, and respect for the labor that sustains it.
As the country looks ahead, leaders and citizens alike appear united in their resolve to turn National Paddy Day into more than just a festival — but a springboard for agricultural renewal.
