Cover Story (Spotlight Weekly)

Rice Production Under Threat

From hostile weather to negligence and market competitions to protecting indigenous plants, Nepal has already lost more than 80 percent out of 2000 varieties of germ plasma (local traditional seed). As a country harvesting the rice at the highest alleviation in the world, some of traditional Nepali rice seeds have unique characters. At a time when the countries around the world have been making efforts to secure the patent rights on various plants, nobody seems to be concerned about Nepal’s patent right on unique grains. Nepal’s rice farming has been passing through the painful destruction of rain affecting the overall rice production

By KESHAB POUDEL

Bachhu Khadka, 62, a farmer from Sankhu village of Kavre district, 25 miles east of capital, is uncertain whether the paddy harvest will be as good as last year since he planted improved varieties of rice in the second week of July. Khadka remembers that the local varieties of rice produced yield even if planted at the end of July.

A Rice Variety : Himalayan orgin

Thanks to the delayed monsoon rain, Khadka did not find adequate water to plant the rice till the first week of July so he is uncertain about the production. “The new improved varieties of rice (Bikase) have replaced our traditional rice. Of course, the new varieties of rice yield more production but it require longer harvesting time,” said Khadka.

In the last tens years, this is for the first time when he has seen the disruption of the monsoon. “Delaying the rice plantation will have definite impact on the overall productions,” said Khadka. “The production will decline by at least 25 percent.”

Sukhram Mahato, 59, of Mahotari district, 300 miles east of capital, has witnessed similar problem. Following the two weeks long drought, the sudden burst of rain washed out his about one hectare of planted rice. “My paddy was completely washed out by river and I am uncertain whether I can go for replantation Perhaps, we have to starve next year,” said Mahato.

For small farmers like Khadka and Mahato, the paddy is their lifeline since it provides nutrition to them as well as to their cattle. The straw is used to feed the cattle during the dry season and the cattle dung used as fuel.

Thanks to aggressive government policy, the new improved varieties of paddy seeds were introduced to double average paddy production undermining the strength and quality of traditional varieties.

“Gone are the days when we used to plant Thapachiniya, Marshi, Tauli and Basmati but now there are only three varieties of Pokhareli, Mansuli and Taichung that are planted,” said Khadka. “If there is delay in plantation for a week, it will affect the overall production.”

Farmers like Khadka’s worries are understandable as the rainfall in the month of June was more than 100 mm below normal. Despite the activation of monsoon in normal period of early June, it was obstructed for two weeks thanks to the westerly disturbance. “The rainfall was at a normal trend till the third week of June but the sudden disturbances reduced the total rainfall in June mere 183 mm, the least in the last 13 years,” according to senior meteorologist at Department of Meteorology and Hydrology.

With less than one fifth of the cultivated land area irrigated, farmers like Khadka and Mahato depend on monsoon rain for the crops. If the rainfall exceeds the normal conditions, it will affect the total productions.

Rice field : Expanding gradually

The second week of July, however, was terrific as the eastern and central terai has seen record rainfall causing massive damages in the paddy fields as well as infrastructures. The Kosi River recorded big flow of water exceeding the warning level and the heavy rain washed out thousands of hectares of paddy field in Mahotari, Siraha, Dhanusha and Rautahat districts.

Not only local varieties of traditional versions of rice have become extinct from the valley but the rice planted in 9,000 and 10,000 feet high mountain in Jumla has also been in the process of extinction. Unfortunately, the country has not made any efforts to study the rice varieties and claim the patent rights.

Nepal is a member of World Trade Organization and it can claim patent on certain varieties of rice. ”We have not made any scientific study of plants and its origins. As long as we do not take research and study, we cannot claim patent on our plants,” said spokesperson of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. “The government is considering starting the study on certain plant.”

Rice – which occupies more than fifty percent of the total food grains - is a main cereal crop of Nepal followed by wheat and maize. Since Nepal’s large areas still rely on monsoon rain, the fluctuation of rainfall affects the average production, which in turn, affects the life of rural population.

Whenever there is drought or flood, paddy is an ultimate victim. The rice production increase where there is adequate rain but over rainfall can destroy the total production. Mostly paddy plantation in the hill and plain begin just a few days after the monsoon.

Despite the deposit of vast amount of fresh water, overwhelming number of Nepalese farmers have to rely on rain for their products.

From poverty alleviation to self-sufficiency in the agriculture sector, the overall production of the rice plays important role. “Rice is one of the most important and number one cereal crops in Nepal. Not only is rice a key source of food, it is also a major employer and source of income for the poor,” said Bhola Man Singh Basnet, chief information officer at the Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC).

According to the Ministry of Cooperatives and Agriculture, the rice crop is grown in I 1.6 million hectare with the total production of 4.5 million metric tones. Its productivity is 2.9 tons per hectare. The growth in rice production is low (grain yield 2.07 percent per annum), compared to the rate of population growth (2.2 per annum).

Twenty years long Agriculture Perspective Plan has also given high priority for rice. Rice contributes to nearly 20 percent of the agricultural gross domestic product and provides more than 50 percent of the total calories requirement to the Nepalese people. Experts argue that the total agriculture production plays important role in an any poverty reduction programs.

Thanks to the slow but visible implications of the global warming, the pattern of weather seems to be gradually changing affecting the entire process of the agriculture particularly rice production. When the world is celebrating the International Rice Year making efforts to increase the average production of rice, Nepalese farmers, however, have to face extreme and hostile weather situation. First few weeks of delayed monsoon rains have disrupted the paddy plantation in the central hilly region and the massive monsoon rain has destroyed tens of thousands of rice field in the eastern and central terai region.

Twenty-two districts in Terai region produces the bulk of rice to fulfill the demand of other hilly districts. Morang is the district with the highest coverage of paddy flied. According to the Ministry of Cooperatives and Agriculture, the paddy covered 95,000 hectares of land in the district. Jhapa district is in the second rank as far as rice yield is concerned.

Manang and Mustang are the only two Himalayan districts where rice is not planted. The total paddy production of Morang district alone exceeds the rice produced by more than 22 hilly districts put together.

Uninterrupted supply of new breeds of rice is required to increase the yield. Following the use of seeds for long period of time, they will weaken and be prone to different diseases. This is the reason why the governments around the world do the research and study to analyze the modes of rice seeds.

In Nepal, there is frequent eruption of diseases in the rice. “There are regular epidemics in rice. Just a few years ago, there were epidemic of brown plant hopper in Chitwan,” said Dr. Dhruba Naryan Manandhar, an entomologist at Nepal Agriculture Research Council (NARC). “If such epidemic are not controlled, they are going to be disaster for the farmers. We need to introduce new breed of rice and monitor the paddy.”

The first improved version of rice was introduced in 1967 in Kathmandu valley and mid-hill region. Interestingly, all four varieties of improved version of seeds were imported from China. Chainan-2 and Tainan 1 were recommended to mid-hills with the harvesting days of 143 and 144 days. Chainung 242 and Taichung 176 were recommended to mid-hills and Kathmandu valley. For the last 28 years, Taichung varieties of rice remains popular in the valley.

The first improved varieties of rice were introduced in Terai in 1968. R.R.-8 was the first new improved seed recommended to terai. NARC has already recommended 39 types of improved varieties of rice in the last 37 years. NARC has recently recommended hardinath 1, a new improved varieties of seeds for terai and inner terai.

“We have already introduced 39 varieties with full package of practice within the span of thirty eight years. The modern varieties can express their yield potentiality only when recommended packages are practiced,” said Basnet.

According to the rice expert, the paddy is a very complicated plant and it is sensitive to the sunlight. The traditional types of rice have photo-sensitive period. “Whenever you plant the rice, they will be ready for harvesting at the end of October. Improved varieties, however, are non-sensitive,” said Bhola Man Singh Basnet.

Due to the topography and weather, Kathmandu valley and hill districts rely on single rice crop whereas the terai produces two paddy crops a year. Nepal Agriculture Research Council (NARC) has recently released a winter crop. In terai, the paddy can be planted round the year.

Despite the contribution of NARC to introduce different kinds of new varieties of paddy breed, a large number of farmers still rely on the seeds imported from Indian market. Thanks to the low quality and untested seeds, farmers often suffer from the low productivity.

“In comparison with the investment made in the NARC, the result is still bleak and unsatisfactory. Had the NARC functioned properly, the country would have seen much better productivity,” said a senior official at the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives.

To improve and increase the paddy production, there must be intensive research as well as irrigation. “Although we have many snow-fed rivers with capacity to provide irrigation facilities, our farmers have to pray for Indra (god of rain) to give them water. Is it not an irony?” asked a senior official.

The NARC is full of renowned Nepalese scientists but frequent political intervention compels NARC officials to knock the doors of politicians rather than spare more time in research.

In the last 12 years, the NARC has seen more than half a dozen executive director and some of the executive directors even did not complete six years. From Parwanipur farming to Tarahar Research center and Khumaltar research facility, the NARC does have ample centers for research.

The NARC officials, however, see their research has transformed the country’s agriculture sector from traditional to modern one. “If you look at the contribution of the NARC in the last two decades, you can see a lot of changes in the agriculture sector. We have recommend new varieties of paddy in the last four decades to increase the productivity,” said Basnet.

Paddy Production

In the last one decade, the paddy production has doubled. Nepal produced merely 2372020 metric tons in 1986/87 to 4455722 metric tons in the year 2003/2004. According to the statistics of Ministry of Agriculture, the areas of cultivation have also increased during that period of time. The area of paddy cultivation was 1333360 hectares in 1986/1987 and now it is 1559436 hectares. One can see improvement in annual yield also. In 1986/87, the yield was1779 kg per hectare and now it is 2857 kg per hectares.

Compared to other Asian countries it is still too low. Since paddy is based on intensive water consumption farming, the annual productivity is determined by the annual rainfall. If the rainfall is reasonable, the productivity goes high. In case of drought and over rain, the productivity suffers.

For eastern and central Nepal, the monsoon - despite heavy rain in the first two weeks of July - was weak in June. The situation, however, in the far western and mid-western region are still bad. After a month long drought, monsoon entered the region but it was too little for paddy.

Rice is one of the important and stable food for most people in Nepal and it has long history of cultivation. At a time when the country is celebrating International Year of Rice with a theme of Rice is Life; there is a need for firm commitments to drastically change the present trend of rice production.

From total productivity to productivity of yield, one can see the fluctuation in the rice production. Nepalese farmers have improved the yield in the last five years but it is yet to be seen whether it is sustainable or not.

Competition for Paddy

Along with nature, the market is also hostile to paddy farmers since they have to compete with the farmers of neighboring country where farmers receive heavy subsidized irrigation as well as fertilizer.

New area for farming has already opened up but Nepalese farmers still follow the subsistence farming. The paddy remains a main crop followed by Maize, Wheat and Barley.

As competition for Nepalese farmers goes up, the time has come for the government to introduce certain packages so that farmers can benefit from it. When the land in the hill area prone to landslides and the agriculture land in terai under threat of floods, the future of crop like paddy is bleak.

“Nepal Can Claim To Be A Country Of Origin Of Rice”

— Dhruba Narayan Manandhar

Dhruba Narayan Manandhar is a well-known entomologist and agriculture scientist of Nepal. An experienced agriculture research worker, Dr. Manandhar spoke to KESHAB POUDEL on various issues. Excerpts of his interview:

How do you see the practice of paddy plantation in Nepal?

It is very interesting to say that Nepal is the only country in the world where you can find the rice plantation being carried out in places that are from 70 meters to 2850 meters above the sea level. Kechana of Jhapa district is the lowest point and Jiulo of Jumla is the highest point. It is interesting to note that paddy requires intensive water but only 21 percent of the total areas of paddy cultivation have irrigation facilities. More than 65 percent of paddy fields depend upon natural rain.

How many types of indigenous rice are found in Nepal?

More than 1836 varieties of germ plasma (indigenous varieties) have already been registered in Nepal. And there are four types of wild rice.

What are the most important things about rice in Nepal?

If we are ready to prepare detailed study, Nepal can claim to be a country of origin of rice. We have adequate evidence to claim it. Nepal has existence of four kinds of wild rice and diversity of germ plasma (indigenous rice). Being a member of the World Trade Organizations, Nepal can register its claim on the patent of origin of rice.

Then, why have the steps not been taken to claim it?

Many believe that rice originated in the Himalayan region and we have adequate evidences. I don’t know why no body is taking initiative about this.

Despite being the main crop, what is the reason behind the stagnation of rice production?

There is enough space to increase the present rate of productivity. We have got technology and techniques. What is required is the political commitment. It is unfortunate to say that the country does not have any national program even in this International Year of Rice. If we use our techniques and technology, we can easily double the rice production in Nepal.

DELAYED SHOWERS
Alarming Signs

Even as large swathes of the country continue to be ravaged by heavy rainfall this week, the dry June has farmers worried over their productivity

By SANJAYA DHAKAL

Nepal continues to be haunted by extreme swings of monsoon this year. While this week witnessed deaths and destructions in many parts of the country due to floods and landslides, relatively fewer rainfall during the month of June is feared to affect the agricultural output.

The delayed monsoon showers in most parts of country has triggered fears of significant effect on the agricultural productivity in the coming year of this agriculture-dependant impoverished Himalayan Kingdom.

Sprinkling pesticide : For better yield

In the absence of cushions like irrigation facilities and subsidies on power, fertilizer, seeds and so on, Nepal farmers depend wholly on the nature of the monsoon. “Since November 1999, the government has withdrawn all kinds of subsidies like on the price of fertilizer, seeds, irrigation services and food procurement at the pressures of donor organizations, rendering the agriculture to be wholly dependant on monsoon,” said Dr. Bishwambher Pyakuryal, Professor of Economics at the Central Department of Economics of Tribhuwan University, the largest university of Nepal.

Therefore, it came as no surprise when on the first week of July hundreds of people from poor Tharu community engaged in a bizarre tradition with the ‘belief’ of pleasing the rain-God. Helpless and frustrated over the lack of rainfall, the womenfolk belonging to Tharu community of Banke district in mid-western Nepal wore male attires and plowed the fields. Whereas, the menfolk wore female attires and assisted them by delivering lunches at the field – the total switchover of traditional roles. The Tharu community had no other option than to expect divine intervention as there is no facility of irrigation and their farms were drying up due to delayed monsoon showers. “I am worried we might not even get works, if it does not rain,” said Barshanta Tharu expressing the woes of landless people who depend upon agricultural labor for their livelihood. Elsewhere, farmers engaged in worships of Lord Indra – the mythical God of Rain in Hindu religion – for rainfall.

Narayan Sapkota, a farmer from Kavre district, nervously looks up to the sky. “Every time the dark clouds gather, my heart warms up. But, unfortunately, the rainfall has not occurred on time. Now I am worried how I would support my family since productivity is sure to decline this year,” he said. Sapkota has a field that is just able to support the food requirement of his family of six the year round. “If the late monsoon affects the productivity, I do not know what I would do,” he added.

Similar is the story of Bhishma Khadka of Sindhupalchowk district. Khadka largely depends on the rice he grows on his field for not only the food requirement of his family but also to buy clothes and other items. “Last year, I had a good harvest and could buy new clothes for my family members. This year, I don’t think I am going to be that lucky,” he said.

Monsoon generally enters Nepal on early June and remains active till September. This is the period when 80 percent of the total annual rainfall occurs. The majority of the farmers in Nepal plant rice – the staple food – in the mid-June. This year most of the farmers have not yet started the plantation. Those who managed the plantation during the early showers are worried that the saplings might die due to lack of adequate moisture.

“This year, although the monsoon did enter on normal time, it failed to become much active in the initial weeks. In fact, during the third and the fourth week of June, the most parts of the country witnessed dry spell,” said Krishna Bhakta Manandhar, a weather forecaster at the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology. And these two very weeks were the most crucial ones as far as rice plantation season was concerned. The rainfall was at a normal trend till mid June. But the sudden dryness that developed subsequently left total rainfall in June to a mere 183 mm, the least in last 13 years.

The average rainfall for June is 252 mm. Before this year, the lowest rainfall was in 1991,when just 114 mm rainfall was recorded in the month, according to the Department of the Hydrology and Meteorology.

“In the absence of irrigation facilities, the farmers have to depend on monsoon and they have to time their plantation very delicately. Particularly, in the hilly regions, if the farmers cannot plant rice during mid-June, the productivity just slacks down,” said Bhola Man Singh Basnet, chief information officer at the Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) – the leading government body engaged in agriculture research. “Any delay in monsoon shower will most definitely hurt the farmers because once planted, the rice will require adequate temperature, which will not be available in hilly region if they miss that key period,” added Basnet. He added that the panicles or the ear-heads of the rice does not develop properly in the absence of adequate temperature. “If the rice plants do not receive rainfall on time and if they do not get adequate temperature, the grain-filling does not occur rendering the cr op useless.”

Hilly areas cover 68 percent of total land mass of Nepal – 17 percent is covered by plain areas called Terai and 15 percent by mountainous region. And the hilly areas are responsible for producing 30 percent of the total volume of rice produced by the country and 70 percent of maize – whose plantation season also coincides with that of rice. Likewise, hilly areas produce 50 percent of wheat. Rice, maize and wheat are considered the three most important cereal crops in terms of food security in the country. Out of the three, rice is considered the most important.

Even as weather forecasters say that the monsoon this year will be normal in the end, the farmers are already worried about the impact the delayed showers will have on their rice and maize productivity. “I see there is going to be at least 5-7 percent decline in the rice productivity next year,” said Keshab Badal, a leading peasant movement campaigner and an agricultural scholar.

“Monsoon, by nature, are erratic. Sometime they come at normal time and sometime they don’t. This year, although the monsoon clouds had arrived on time, their activity was obstructed by dry westerly wind that came from Arabian sea,” said Manandhar.

At present, with the share of 40 percent and 80 percent in GDP and labor force respectively, the agriculture plays a key role in the overall economy and society.

In the year 2003, the country had witnessed a bumper harvest of rice – with the growth of 7.8 percent compared to the previous year – which propelled the overall economic growth to just over 4 percent despite gloomy predictions based on grinding effects of the spiraling insurgency. “If agriculture productivity is even slightly affected, the national economy will have to bear significant shocks,” said Dr. Pyakuryal.

In the current fiscal year (2003/2004) – which will end on mid-July – the total rice production is expected to exceed 44,56,000 metric tons – a record yield that coincided with the UN-declared International Year of Rice. Due to good monsoon, the year also witnessed record growth in the production of major cereal crops. Over 56,53, 385 metric tons of the crops (including rice, maize and wheat) were produced in the year as against the total national requirement of 46,19,982 metric tons, according to Basnet. “We are gradually becoming self-reliant on food production,” he added.

But all these achievements could undo in the coming year. Keshab Badal believes that until and unless scientific irrigation system is put in place, the Nepalese farmers will continue to have to depend on the mother nature.

“It is found that there is co-relation between the incidents of poverty and scarcity or inaccessibility of water. Even the land endowment would not bring more income if there is no water for cultivation. As such, the irrigation facilities can contribute towards national and household food security, better facilities and opportunities to the land owners,” said Prachanda Man Pradhan, an irrigation expert and chairman of Farmer Managed Irrigation Systems Promotion Trust.

Experts have said that although around US$ 1 billion has been invested in the irrigation sector in the last 50 years, it could not bring any change in agriculture as well as food security scenario.

Out of the total cultivated area of 29,68,017 hectares, only 985,546 hectares of land have irrigation facilities available. All round the year irrigation is available to only about 30 percent of the irrigated areas.

“The growth in agriculture sector is vital for overall economic growth of the country,” said an official at the Ministry of Agriculture, who revealed that the Ministry was yet to assess the impact of delayed showers on the agricultural productivity. “ The government’s National Planning Commission plans to irrigate additional 200,000 hectares of land in the next three years.