Introduction:

The Agriculture and Forestry University has made a provision of field exposure to the students
of every semester to the related field, in order to enhance our knowledge on each different
subjects through live field experience. We had also visit to some places during our 2ndsemester.
Place Visited:

For our field exposure visit, we the students of B.Sc. Ag 2 nd semester from AFU, faculty of
agriculture, College of Natural Resources Management, Marin, Sindhuli, visited three different
agricultural as well as horticultural research centers in Nepal in our two days’ field visit as
following:
i) Regional Horticultural Centre, Nawalpur, Sarlahi
ii) Regional Agriculture Research Centre, Parwanipur, Bara
iii) Nepal Agriculture Research Council/National Rice Research Program, Hardinath, Dhanusha
Subject of Study/Objectives:

The subject of our study was ‘Field Exposure Visit’. Our main objectives were to find out
different activities and researches carried out by three different research centers on different
horticultural and agronomical plants & crops as well as to collect some facts about Plant raising
techniques, varieties of crops being cultivated, conditions of plant breeding (Rice) etc.
Methods of Study:

We visited to each research centers by our reserved bus and for guidance, we had heads of the
concerned research center along with some workers and in some cases researchers themselves,
who guided us, to the research field, so that we can meet our objectives thoroughly. Different
queries were also raised by us (Students) to the guide regarding different researches to meet our
objectives.
Findings:

In the course of our field visit, we collected various informations regarding cultivation,
propagation/seedling raising techniques of rice, different flowers and fruits like mango.
Moreover, the findings we made at different research centers can be summarized as following:
I)Tropical region Horticulture Centre(TRHC):
The tropical region horticulture center has its very well designed landscape on total area of
185.5hac. which itself is enough to define the center. It was established on 12th of Ashar 2029
under the Ministry of Agriculture development, Department of Agriculture. The visit was very
fruitful to us. The THRC acts as a directorate of fruit development & furthermore, it carries
various task, which can be summarized as following:
 Research programs and variety development of various flowers and fruits.

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  Develops true potato seeds and seeds of other leguminous crops.
 Production of scion and stock for varieties of fruits and flowers, as well as only center for
side grafting in Nepal along with bud grafting.
 Processing, management, supervision and marketing of various vegetables, ornamental
plants, fruits horticultural farm supervision.
Moreover, we also observed, 43 varieties of mango imported from various countries like
America (ED, Heden), Thailand (Daimile) Pakistan (Amanta), & India. Some varieties of
litchi like sahi were found to be growing at the THRC. There were 188 species of Rose
cultivated. Shed house was made for the hardening process of root. Different high-tech
nurseries are also developed to produce diseases resistance varieties of plants. The true potato
seed is developed to produce diseases resistance varieties, which is found in Sindhupalchowk
and Sarlahi only. In rose, the variety developed by grafting with wild root stock and flowering
scion, was found to have life span of 40 years, while that propagated by normal stem cutting
have life span of 10-12 years only.
II) Regional Agricultural Research Center (RARC):
Regional agricultural research center is in parwanipur of Bara district which was
established in 2004B.s. under the Government of Nepal, Nepal agriculture research council and
has research programs on many branches of agriculture and horticultural orchard, ornamental
horticultural practices, cereal crops research, poultry farming.
The plants or varieties under research before release are genotypes. 22 genotypes with 2-3
replications are carried out. RARC is carrying on trial on 86 varieties of rice from India, with
two replications each. There is also trial on 12 Chinese varieties of Rice being carried out each
with 3 replications each. Simply, more the varieties are used lesser the replications are made and
vice-versa. We also get to know about methods of trials or steps of trials as following:
 Initial evaluation trial (IET)
 Co-ordinated Varietal Trial (CVT)
 Farmer Field Varietal Trial (FFVT)
During our visit, herbicide application was already done. There were 12 genotypes of medium
varieties and 6 species of fine aromatic rice being carried out.
RARC, along with variety release also carries out the task of seed production. 5 varieties of rice
like Sabitri, Makawanpur-1 are being cultivated for the purpose of seed production. For the
weed management practices on rice field, trials on 3 varieties of rice were being carried.
Everything was very well managed, plots/Blocks for Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) and
transplanted Rice (TPR) were separately arranged, with efficient irrigation systems.
Researches on rice blast diseases are also done by RARC. During our visit, green manures
were being used to develop pests, to test which of the variety of the rice can overcome or is
resistance to the diseases.

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Extending, its activities on the field of agriculture, RARC is also carrying poultry farming.
Different breeds of poultry like Turkey, Gunia, Fowl, Quial are being used as source of meat as
well as egg purpose. Turkey is mainly used for meat purpose while Quail is used for dual,
layering and meat purpose.
On the ornamental branch, there are about 26 varieties of crotons cultivated commercially as
well as for the research purpose. Nelumbo variety of lotus and variety of lilies like Nymphae
with many other ornamental plants like, rose, palm, Asoka, Durante etc. are under cultivation in
RARC.
Three varieties of Banana are also under cultivation in the area of 13.5 Bighas. The varieties
were:
i) William hybrid
ii) Genine varieties
iii) Jhapali malboy
Banana can be cultivated three times a year, first during March/April, which is better in
comparison to those cultivated in May/June or July/August.
Researches and varietal test on banana, other fruits like 30 varieties of mangoes propagated by
using Germplasm, Litchi, mandarin, were being carried out by the RARC during our visit.
Furthermore, Ginger cultivation, raising seedling of tomatoes, Brinjales, chilly, cauliflower,
were being carried out. Grafting on pomegranate, litchi, and guavas were also under process.
The researches on brinjal were being carried, from last 90 years but halted due to lack of
manpower in the mid-years which was again initiated during our visit. The varieties of Brinjals
(Eggplant) being cultivated are:
 Pusa kanti,
 Laal gulab
 HRD 012
 HRD 013
 Parwanipur selection-1
Along with above varieties, total of 6-8 varieties of Brinjals are under cultivation and
research by RARC.
Protocol development
 Trials are carried on different places
 Each trials are carried out for 3 years, if the result is not in favor the trial is discarded.
 Thus, the reason for the failure of trial is found out and solutions are suggested
accordingly.
 During FFT, farmers should accept and prefer for their Taste and preference.

iii) Nepal Agriculture Research Council/National Rice Research Program, (NARC):

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 National agriculture research center was established in 2004BS. in parwanipur with the
aids of Japanese government for the first time in Nepal which later on 2056 BS. Transferred to
Hardinath, Dhanusha. The total area under NARC is 42.2 hacters out which total cultivated
area is 25hacters. Different activities related to rice cultivation are extensively carried out by
NARC, like development and release of new varieties, development of pest resistant varieties,
seed production and many more. Rice is cultivated in three seasons, by NARC.
The rice cultivated in Winter season is called boro rice (Hiudey dhaan), some rice varieties are
used for demarcation purpose, which are called as purple Rice. The purple rice is not suitable
for food, because of bitter taste. The spring season rice is called as Chaitya dhaan. There are
many varieties of main season rice. Rainy season is the main season for rice cultivation. Some
local varieties of rice were also cultivated, like kaala, Namak Masino, lalka masuli etc.
Sona mansuli is imported from india by farmers and different other varieties of rice are also
imported from IRRI-philipines. We got an ample opportunity to gather different knowhow about
rice cultivation techniques, research methods, methods and techniques of hybrid development,
and many other practices being carried like trials on DSR, TPR, aromatic rice, weed
management on rice, herbicide use on rice etc. by NARC.
During our visit, we find that, different trials on varieties of rice and many other topics were
being carried on different soil conditions with number of trials and replications, for better variety
release and quality seed production for the farmer’s field. According to the NARC, it takes about
10-12 years, of trial on a particular variety to release it for the farmer’s field. Different trials
were also carried for the soil and the fertilizer test, the response of the particular rice variety to
the different soil conditions and fertilizers application, upland trial, low land trial.
We also learned about various rice diseases. False smut, in rice is due to more urea and water
lodged condition. The maximum weed infestation in rice is Khasami weed.
NARC was also developing flooded rice i.e. sehran Sub.1, which is feeded up to 80cm for this
after seedling is transported, they are submerged for 14 days after 20 days of transplantation. 10
species of rice are in trial, configuring the flooding problems, after a week of transplantation.
This variety is being developed for the places, from where water can’t be drained out for long
period of time.
NARC also produces seeds of rice, there are five types of seeds:
i) Nuclear seed
ii) Breeder seed
iii) Foundation seed
iv) Certified seed
V) Improved seed

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These all were the informations we collected by visiting different research centers, which proved
to be very fruitful to all of us, in our study and practical knowhow.

Problems:

Different research centers are carrying different activities, they have been working actively on
different research activities, varieties development, for the development of quality in different
fruits, flower, vegetables and crops with increased yield. The demands of crops and fruits,
vegetables and flowers are increasing day by day with increasing population of the world which
can’t be fulfilled by the traditional methods of cultivation without improved seeds and hybrid
varieties. Furthermore, climate is changing day by day, so, the crops’ yield is decreasing day to
day, due to their decreasing adaptability to the changing climate. Climate-Smart agriculture is the
need of today’s world.
So, considering increasing demand, available technologies, conditions of research centers,
following weaknesses were found: Mainly, there were insufficient technical manpower
available, ignorance by the government on releasing of local varieties and registration of high
yielding imported varieties of crops. The main aspect for any task or research is
Capital/investment, the government of Nepal seems poorly investing in the field of research for
developing new, high yielding varieties. Various research centers haven’t been able to
successfully utilize local varieties. According to the TRHC, there were 188 varieties of rose,
but now only 78 varieties of rose are present, it shows poor management and care in variety
development of rose. Furthermore, they have been unable to encourage local farmers with hybrid
seeds of various crops and flowers, to commercialize agriculture.

Suggestions and Recommendations:

Everything was found going far better than the past, but were still poorly developed or managed,
considering to the present growing technologies, changing climate, changing food styles of
people & increasing demands. Considering, all these, the research centers should develop their
plans and policies accordingly to meet the changing food styles of people. The government of
Nepal government should encourage locals and private sectors for investment on research
programs. It should come with incentives and allowances to motivate people for investment. The
government of Nepal should come with new latest and modern technologies, for hybridization,
seed treatments, and many other devices.

Conclusion:

Nepal has got its own numerous indigenous varieties of rice and other ornamental as well as
horticultural plants which have very high yielding capacity with quality. Government of Nepal
seems lagging behind on managing, preserving and promoting them effectively. The popular rice

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grown in Nepal so called Marsi Dhan, is highly nutritious but its cultivation is limited within
Jumla. The government of Nepal should invest on developing its hybrids that can grow on terai
as well. Besides all these, we have got an ample opportunity to collect informations various
ornamental plants and hybridization techniques of rice. The visit turn really fruitful to all of us.

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