In Nepal, DSR Brings Inclusive Gains for Profitable and Sustainable Rice Farming

By Prem Raj Bhatt, Rabin Kushma Tharu, Mosharaf Hossain, Swati Nayak

In Nepal, women form the backbone of agriculture. More than 70% of Nepalese women are engaged in farming, especially in rural areas where agriculture remains the main source of livelihood (World Bank, 2019). Despite their significant contributions, many women still lack access to training, quality inputs, decision-making opportunities, and new technologies. As more youth, particularly men, migrate from rural areas in search of employment, women increasingly carry the full weight of agricultural work and household food security.

Rice plays a vital role in Nepal’s food and farming systems. The country’s per capita rice consumption is nearly three times higher than the global average (Ahmed et al., 2024). For many households, rice is more than a staple; it is deeply tied to tradition, identity, and economic survival. However, rising input costs, labor shortages, climate stress, and declining profits are making traditional rice farming unsustainable. These issues leave many women farmers managing larger workloads with fewer resources and limited support.

DSR Farming at a Glance

To help address these challenges, IRRI is promoting Direct-Seeded Rice (DSR) technology as a climate-smart, cost-effective, and women-friendly alternative to conventional methods. In 2024, IRRI worked with 92 farmers in the Kanchanpur, Kailali, and Bardiya districts, introducing DSR across more than 30 hectares of farmland.