Rice is number one staple food crop in Nepal. It is the major food crop which is the major source of nutrition for more than half of the world’s population. It fulfills more than 50% of the total calorie requirement of Nepalese people. China is the leading rice producer followed by India, Indonesia and Bangladesh. Nepal is culturally an agriculture based country and rice is the major cereal crop which contributes significantly to livelihood of majority of people and national economy. It contributes about 20% of the Agricultural GDP in the country and 7% to the total GDP (KRISHI DIARY 2070). In Nepal, Agriculture Development Strategy (ADS) and National Agriculture Policy has given topmost priority to rice. (Guadel and Gautam 2016). In Nepal, it is grown in three agroecolological zone i.e. Terai , mid hills &high hills. Rice is also called semi-aquatic crop which requires about 170-300 cm of annual rainfall. Productivity of rice is highest in Jhapa among the districts of Nepal.
Present scenario of rice production
Nepal has an annual rice deficit of about 1 million tons even during monsoons. The total productivity of rice since 1988 is between 3.2 million to 3.5 million tonnes and productivity growth rate in the last 54 years is 1.5% .(Nepal Agriculture Research Council). As, rice is the most important crop, it occupies 50% of the total agricultural area and production in the country where more than 75% of the working population are engaged in rice cultivation we are still behind a high margin to reach our fullest. But there is huge gap between attainable yield and potential yield. Fluctuations in the production can be seen in recent years like in 2019 total rice production was decreased by 1.7% compared to 2018. (CCAF’S Regional Agricultural forecasting tool box). Average farm holding declined significantly from 0.95 ha/hh in 1991 to 0.66 ha/hh in 2011 (data source ISSN: 2581-368) which is mainly due to modernization and unplanned urbanization.
Demand scenario
Nepal is not yet self-sufficient in rice production and depend on imports from other countries. Nepal import rice from China, India, Thailand, south Korea. Globally rice demand is estimated to rise from 439 millions tonnes in 2010 to 555 million tonnes in 2035. (Food and Agricultural Policy Research institute, FAPRI). And Nepal imported rice worth Rs 23.17 billion in the last fiscal year (Record of Department of Costumes). The domestic production is not enough to meet the domestic requirements which leads to dependence to India, china and other countries. As the population growth rate is increasing by 2.35% each year (consensus 2068) Nepal is facing problem in self sufficiency. Data of foreign trade Statistics shows that import of rice is more than doubled in the current fiscal year. Population growth has exceeded rice growth and gap has been steadily larger which create imbalance between demand and supply.
Major Constraints
Presently, the investment in rice research is very low in Nepal with less than 0.1% of the value of rice output being invested in rice research. (Rice Research program , NARC). NARC also receives less share of the Agricultural research budget only about 4% of the total research budget. (Bhaba P Tripathi 2018). Limited access to technology, inadequate programs on promotion of rice, ineffective implementation of programs related to rice are major constraints. Insect, pests and weed are the main biological constraints which significantly decreases the production. Weed is the main problem in the upland and direct seeded rice. Fungi, bacteria, nematodes has been so far reported in rice. Khaira diseases which is caused due to the deficiency of zinc has been reported as main problem in rice field. 79% of the rice area is rain-fed which is the major problem of rice cultivation. Soil acidity, siltation is also the major problem in rice field. Farmers are facing problems of product quality and timely deliver of input. Lack of adequate irrigation facilities, shortage of extension technical and officers to provide services to farmers, poor management practices are major constraints.
Increase in rice production
To increase rice production, productivity and profitability we need to adopt technology- intensive farming using best rice varieties, and best management practices. Low agricultural surplus is the main reason for Nepal’s growing negative trade balance in food products since 1990. (Annual international trade Statistics by country, HSO2). So, now it’s time to take an action to make country self sufficient in rice and to improve productivity. For this higher yield varieties should be used rather local strains. Irrigation and fertilizer helps to raise yields. High yielding varieties, semi dwarf rice varieties which is more responsive to nutrients should be cultivated. These varieties should be made accessible to farmers and should be made easily available. There is strong need for suitable high yielding and stress tolerant rice varieties for irrigated and rain-fed ecosystem. Government should invest adequate resources in plant breeding to developed improved varieties particularly focusing on hybrids, and improved varieties which address both biotic and abiotic stresses. New approaches for the Agricultural development should be establish so that we can increase the productivity and balance the demand and supply in rice as well as minimize the import and increases the economic prosperity of the country.
Rice production in developed countries
Mean yields of cereal crop i.e. Rice in various region in the world in 1989 were lower in developing countries than in developed countries.(Ricepedia). The highest rice production have been obtained from cultivating rice in high latitude area that have long day length where intensive farming techniques are practices(FAO, 1990a). China’s production in rice is greater because nearly all the available land for irrigated but in case of Nepal only 18% of the cultivable land are irrigated. In Bangladesh, ground water is supplemented for Rice cultivation.(Ricepedia). Farmers have to depend on monsoons. So, we must learn from our neighboring country to develop and establish a new approach for irrigation so that we can increase our production. Agricultural mechanization has brought far reaching changes in farming structure in all developed countries.
Government strategies for Rice Research and Development
The government of Nepal and IRRI signed a five year work plan to achieve rice self-sufficiency and generate employment in ruler area. ADP and APP are the major long term strategies which have mainly focused in the promotion of rice of Nepal. Specific rice promotion program has been implemented by government. Three irrigation projections that will divert water to huge tracts of Terai are about to launch in the central & western plains. New techniques like system of Rice Intensification (SRI) and cross breeding by farmers have improved yield and that techniques are need to be sealed up. Government of Nepal has given priority for irrigation infrastructure development for bringing more rice area under irrigation. The major constraints to rice production and priority in rice research and development agenda in Nepal are discussed for making Nepal rice- sufficient.
Conclusion
Despite the planned development efforts in Agriculture, achievements in rice growth haven’t been achieved. Production target in periodic plans was not achieved. Though demand for hybrid seed is increasing, rice production in Nepal is still dominated by old and obsolete rice varieties bred. So, to increase in rice production high yielding and improved varieties should be cultivated with best management practices. Rice self-sufficiency is key to Nepal’s economic. So, the production of rice must rise faster than in recent past to minimize the import and to balance the demand and supply and to make country self -sufficient in rice.