Women-led cooperatives and seed entrepreneurs drive seed innovation in Nepal

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

Rice accounts for 53% of cereal grain production in Nepal and contributes 5.7% to the country’s total GDP and 13.5% to agricultural GDP (MoALD, 2023). Nearly two-thirds of farming households rely on rice farming for their primary source of income and nutrition, with rice providing 40% of the daily calorie intake in rural areas (Poudel et al., 2021).

However, despite its importance, the country continues to face a significant production shortfall. While the annual national demand is 4.08 million tons of milled rice, local production is only 3.25 million tons (Choudhary et al., 2022).

One key factor behind this shortfall is low yield. Although improved varieties have the potential to yield between 4.5 to 5 t/ha, average national yields only remain at 3.8 t/ha. Closing this gap requires access to high-performing, climate-resilient varieties and the establishment of an inclusive, efficient, and responsive seed delivery system.

IRRI’s Integrated Approach to Seed Sector Development in Nepal

Since 1996, IRRI has provided germplasm to Nepal, contributing to nearly 70% of the high-yielding rice varieties developed and released for irrigated and rainfed environments. Since then, IRRI has continuously strengthened its partnerships with the country’s national agricultural research and extension system (NARES), cooperatives, and private sector firms to address barriers in seed delivery and access.

In 2022, the Government of Nepal released seven inbred rice varieties developed through collaborative research between IRRI and NARES partners. These varieties, namely Ghaiya-3, Hardinath-4, Hardinath-5, Hardinath-6, Khumal Basmati-16, Ganga Sagar-1, and Ganga Sagar-2, are recommended for different farming conditions.

Field performances of these varieties were then assessed through cluster demonstrations and head-to-head trials. During the 2023–2024 seasons, Ghaiya-3 and Hardinath-4 demonstrated resilience in upland and rainfed conditions, yielding up to 5.5 t/ha and 4.2 t/ha, respectively. Meanwhile, Hardinath-6 and Hardinath-5 performed better in midland under irrigated conditions, yielding up to 4.6 t/ha and 4.2 t/ha, respectively. To complement these trials, over 100 hectares were utilized for cluster demonstrations, directly involving farmers to enhance their awareness and, in turn, increase local demand for these newly released varieties.