Only 11.3% of Nepal’s 1.38 million hectares of rice fields had been planted by late June 2026 due to the delayed monsoon. This is 4.3% less than last year. Lumbini Province leads with 20.8% progress, while several districts remain near zero. Planting is expected to pick up with the arrival of the rains after Paddy Planting Day on 29 June.