Cropping Systems and the Role of

Research, Extension and Related Support

Services in Agriculture
Accelerated technological change is the
means to increasing agricultural production
and incomes
 Agricultural systems in Nepal

Cropping systems in Nepal contributed in the development of some

cropping patterns responsive to various management conditions
and different levels of production potentials for various agro
ecological zones.

Nepal has three major ecological belts running parallel from east to
west: terai (60-800 m) in the south, hills(800-1800 m) in the middle
and mountains (>1800 m) in the north, terai known also as “granary”
of the country
Ecological belts have distinct geological, soil, climate, and hydrological
characteristics, which results in distinct land use patterns
 Cropping patterns…..terai

Rainfed lowlands with low production potential

a. Rice- wheat- fallow

b. Rice- lentil- fallow
c. Rice- mustard- fallow
d. Rice- pea- fallow
 Cropping patterns……

Terai
Irrigated lowlands with high production potential
a. Rice/sugarcane – wheat- mungbean
b. Rice- maize- mungbean
c. Rice- wheat- dhaincha
d. Rice- wheat- rice
e. Rice- wheat- fallow
f. Rice- mustard- maize
g. Rice- maize- maize
h. Rice- potato- maize
Vegetables and fruits are some of the other mix crops in the prevailing
cropping patterns in all the agro ecological zones
 Cropping pattern…….

Hills

Rainfed lowlands with medium production potential

a. Rice- wheat/potato- fallow
b. Rice- fallow – maize
c. Rice- bean- maize
d. Rice- oats- maize
 Cropping pattern….hills

Rainfed lowlands with low production potential

a. Rice- bean- fallow
b. Rice- oats- fallow

Rainfed lowlands with high production potential

a. Rice- wheat- maize
b. Rice- potato- maize
 Cropping pattern….hills

Irrigated lowlands with high production potential

a. Rice- wheat/potato- rice
b. Rice- wheat- mungbean
c. Rice- wheat- fallow

Rainfed uplands
a. Maize/millet- wheat/potato- upland rice
. Millet- maize- fallow
 Cropping pattern….

Mountains

Barley, buckwheat, maize, potato, vegetables, fruits are the

type of crops grown in the mountains – e.g. Mustang
district

In Jumla, also rice is grown in a large area on the banks of

Tila Nadi and some other areas at high altitudes
 Research and extension…..

• Research is the means to develop technology

• Improved technology along with other agricultural inputs
( fertilizer, well controlled year round irrigation, improved
seeds, better plant protection, etc. ) provide increased
level of agricultural production
• Technology needs to be disseminated to the users
through extension service
• This requires increased specialization
• To reduce the cost of transportation another input is the
agricultural or village roads
• NARC and DOA – two institutions in the country for
agriculture research and extension respectively
 Research and extension…..

• In Nepal, there is poor research output

• Weak extension service
• Lacking applied research at farm level
• Lacking suitable technology for diverse production
conditions and categories of land utilization
• Problem areas : fertilizer use efficiency, water use efficiency,
cropping system for year round irrigation/groundwater use,
training and knowledge dissemination, marketing facilities
and transport for high value commodities
• As a result, farmers unable to reach productivity potentials
suggested by existing research output
 Research and extension….

What to do then?
• Build the country’s own research strength first, As Nepal Agricultural Research Council
(NARC) is the principal organization for agricultural research, strengthen NARC
• Borrow technology from outside the country – specially India
• Internal rate of return for Nepal’s investment in research on rice, maize and wheat has
ranged from 25 to 55% ( rate of return of research on wheat from 1960 – 90 was 75 -
84%)
• Mansuli rice developed in Malaysia and introduced in Nepal, does better under poor
conditions
• IRRI (International Rice Research Institute) rice varieties have higher production
potential, but are more irrigation responsive
• Current status : low area under year round irrigation and aggregate research input is low
as the expenditure on research is low
• Requires more focus on irrigation development and management and research
• Focus also needed in rainfed agriculture, horticulture, livestock, fisheries and
environmental issues
• Agricultural mechanization is another important area that needs more research impetus