Journal of Agriculture and Natural Resources
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Participatory ranking of fodders in the western hills of Nepal
Get PDFFodder is an important source of feed of the ruminants in Nepal. In the mid hills of Nepal, farmers generally practice integrated farming system that combines crop cultivation with livestock husbandry and agroforestry. Tree fodders are good sources of protein during the forage and green grass scarcity periods especially in dry season. Local communities possess indigenous knowledge for the selection of grasses and tree fodders at different seasons in mid hills of western Nepal. A study was conducted on the perception of farmers with respect to selection of fodder species in eight clusters in Kaski and Lumjung districts that range 900-2000 meter above sea level and receive average precipitation of 2000- 4500mm per annum. During the fodder preference ranking, farmers prepared the inventory of fodders found around the villages and nearby forests and selected top ten most important fodders in terms of their availability, palatability, fodder yield, milk yield and milk fat yield. In total, 23 top ranking fodders species were selected from the eight clusters. These fodder species were also ranked using pairwise ranking and weighted scoring methods and ranking was done on the basis of merit numbers obtained from weighted scores. The analysis revealed Artocarpus lakoocha as best tree fodder followed by Ficus semicordata, Thysanolena maxima and Ficus calvata. Similarly, the calendar of fodders trees for lopping season and the best feeding time was prepared on the basis of farmers’ local knowledge. This study suggests strategies for promotion of locally preferred tree fodder species and supplementing tree fodder with feed in different seasons depending on their availability and local preferences
Socio-economics of wheat production in Kailali and Sunsari districts of Nepal
Get PDFFor socio-economic assessment on wheat production, research was conducted from March to June, 2019 in two major wheat growing districts of Nepal, Kailai and sunsari. The primary information was collected by face to face interview using the pre-tested semi-structured interview schedule, two Key Informant Surveys were also done.In addition, the secondary information were collected from the review of related literatures. The survey areas were selected by consultating with Agriculture Knowledge Centre and agricultural officials of the local government; sample were selected by using simple random sampling. All total, 194 samples were selected for this study; the outliers and incomplete responses were omitted. The descriptive statistics revealed that Nepal 297 (66.16 %) has the highest area coverage in Sunsari while Gautam (36.50%) has the highest coverage in Kailali. Multiple regression model revealed that wheat cultivated area (p= 0.000), adoption of NARC released varieties (p= 0.000), gender of the household head (p= 0.017), age of the household head (p= 0.040), membership of organization (p= 0.094) and number of family members between age group 15 to 59 years (p= 0.085) have significant effect on wheat production. Furthermore, the unpaired t-test showed that the mean productivity of wheat in Kailali (2.99 Mt./ha) is significantly higher than that of Sunsari (2.81t./ha) at 5% level of significance. To increase the wheat productivity, the concerned government agricultural institutions should: assure access to NARC released improved varieties, make policy to consolidate the fragmented land, encourage the economically active population and the household heads towards wheat production by providing the efficient technical and financial support
Bung: A traditional practice of potato cultivation in eastern hills of Nepal
Get PDFEastern hill region is one of the high potato producing areas of potato in Nepal. There are many traditional potato production systems existing in the region. Among them, \u27Bung\u27 and \u27Lhose\u27 are very popular systems. There are some under-proven views of naming to this unique cultivation practice. Field observations, key informants\u27 interview, and group discussion were carried out at three sites of Okhaldhunga and Solukhumbu districts in July 2019 to explore the basic information on the bung system. The results of this investigation revealed that the century-old practice utilized marginal sloppy lands of mountains for cultivation of potatoes. Farmers left land fallow for 4-5 years to grow weeds and herbs. Thereafter, they slashed them with a thin layer of soil, stacked them over winter, burned and mixed with the soil making a raised pit. They planted 15-25 potato seed tubers into these pits depending upon the pit size. No additional fertilizer is added to these pits. No intercultural operations are carried out until harvesting. It was explained that the yield of potato from the bung was significantly higher 15-20 kg) than that of general local practice called lhose system (5-7 kg) from the area equivalent to Bung . Some interventions such as high yielding varieties, easy-to-handle equipment for bung preparation and introduction of fast-growing non-hazardous weeds, etc. were the demands of the farmers to increase profit from the bung system
Farmers’ perception on the performance of different rice varieties in Kapilvastu district, Nepal
Get PDFRice is the major staple food crop in Nepal. To date, several rice varieties have been developed and released in Nepal. However, rice production is far below in comparison with its production potential. A household survey was conducted in Bangaganga municipality of Kapilvastu district in 2018 to assess farmers’ perception on performance of four different rice varieties (Radha-4, Ramdhan, Gorakhnath, and Sawa). The data were collected from a total of 120 rice farmers (randomly selected) using the interview schedule and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Likert scale, and indexing technique. Statistical analysis showed that the Ramdhan variety had the highest yield (4.95 t/ha), whereas Radha-4 had the lowest yield (3.15 t/ha). The most disease and drought-tolerant variety, as perceived by the farmers, was Radha-4. Smut and Khaira were perceived as the primary diseases whereas Brown planthopper and Rice Gundhi bug were the most important insects of all studied rice varieties. The study recommended that the plant breeders should focus on developing site-specific rice varieties to meet the multiple concerns of the farmers, such as higher yield and stress-tolerant. The farmers should be made aware of varietal selection and crop pest management techniques via training programs, which further helps to reduce the yield gap between farmers’ field and research field
Value chain analysis of Large Cardamom (Amomum subulatum Roxburg) in Bhojpur, Nepal
Get PDFLarge Cardamom is a high value spice crop having substantial export potential. The study was conducted on Feb-May, 2019 in Arun rural municipality, Bhojpur municipality and Sadananda municipality with an objective to analyze existing value chain of Large Cardamom in Bhojpur district of Nepal. In total, 150 Large Cardamom growers were selected using purposive sampling technique. In addition to that, 17 traders from the Bhojpur, Khadbari and Birtamod were also selected for the study. Findings showed that farmers were interested in Large Cardamom industry due to good return and high profit margin per unit of commodity. The benefit-cost ratio was found higher in Arun village municipality (1.735), followed by Sadananda municipality (1.467) and Bhojpur municipality (1.263). Increasing disease and pest attack and low seasonal price are the major problem in production and marketing of Large Cardamom respectively. Harvested capsules of Large Cardamom were dried using traditional drier (bhatti) that make the dried capsules prone to quality degradation. Value addition practices such as grading, tail cutting were found poor in farmer level. Producer’s share and marketing efficiency were found highest when farmers sell their product directly to exporter and lowest in domestic market channel. Demand and supply of Large Cardamom in Indian market was most determining factor for price fixation of Nepalese Large Cardamom. Thus from the study it is recommended to improve production process through appropriate mechanization, along with possible efforts in identification of potential international markets and possible ways for direct export to third countries which could help farmers to receive higher price
Effects of different combinations of poultry manure and urea on growth, yield and economics of garlic (Allium sativum L.)
Get PDFA field experiment was carried out in garlic (Allium sativum L.) in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications and five treatments in horticulture farm of Agriculture and Forestry University, Chitwan, Nepal to find out the efficacy of different combination of poultry manure and Urea as nitrogen fertilizers in its yield and yield attributes. The five treatments used for experiment were designed altering the recommended nitrogen dose through different sources i.e. (T1) 100% Urea, (T2) 7% Urea and 25% poultry manure, (T3) 50% Urea and 50% poultry manure, (T4) 25% Urea and 75% poultry manure and (T5) 100% poultry manure. The data regarding to the plant height, number of cloves, diameter of bulbs and fresh bulb weight were taken. In case of plant height, non-significant result was found between various treatments. The number of cloves was found highest in T5 (24.69±1.30), the diameter of bulb was found highest in T2 (3.93±0.39 cm), fresh bulb weight was found highest in T2 (14.32±0.39 gm) and total bulb yield was found highest in T2 (7.16±0.19 t/ha) which were significant at 5 % level of significance. The total bulb yield was found positively correlated (r=0.53) with diameter of bulb at 1 % level of significance. The benefit cost (B/C) ratio was found highest in T2 (1.54) and lowest in T3 (1.28). So 75% Urea and 25 % Poultry Manure stood one of the best combinations of nitrogen fertilizers providing higher economic yields
Assessment of pesticide use in major vegetables from farmers’ perception and knowledge in Dhading district, Nepal
Get PDFA field study was carried out to assess the pesticide use status in major vegetable crops from farmers’ perception and knowledge in Dhading, Nepal in 2019. Field study was carried with 100 commercial farmer’s using semi-structure questionnaire by face to face interview. This study was analyzed by categorization of farmers into small holder (51) and large holder (49) groups on the basis of mean area of vegetable cultivation (6.48 ropani). The highest amount of pesticides is needed in tomato in both large holders and small holders according to the farmer’s experience. Among the study farmer’s, 41% of them spray the pesticides by making a cocktail or mixed method and 56% follow the waiting period of 3-5 days in both of the cases. A significant positive correlation was found at 5% level of significance between the knowledge and practice pattern of waiting period of the pesticides and negative correlation was found between the Personal Protective equipment score and health hazard score. Headache was the major health hazards faced by the farmers which was higher in small holders (66.7%) as compared to the large holders (46.9%). Mask was the most used PPE by the farmer’s i.e. by 83% in overall. Fourty three percent of the farmer’s throw the pesticide containers in secret place after using of it.The use of PPE was seen lower in small holders as compared to the large holders. This study reveals the necessities of suitable program and policies regarding the knowledge, safe handling and use of pesticide among the farmer’s level
Credit’s use performance and its determinants on farm household: A case of Chitwan district of Nepal
Get PDFCredit has been considered to play a pivotal role in the agricultural development of Nepal. A large number of institutions are involved in the disbursement of credit to agriculture. In this backdrop, the present study has examined the performance of agricultural credit and has identified the determinants of increased use of credit at the farm household level in Nepal. The study was based on survey data consisting of 107 samples collected randomly from the Chitwan district. The study has revealed that the quantum of credit availed by the farming households is affected by several socio-demographic factors which include caste, economically active population, food sufficiency, and membership in an organization. The research revealed that if the household is Brahmin/ Chettri, the probability of borrowing loans decreased by 32% as compared to other castes. Similarly, if the household’s economically active population increased by one unit, the probability of taking a loan increased by 16%. The results also show that, if household food sufficiency increased by one month the probability of taking loans decreased by 4 % but if the household head is a member of an organization, the probability of taking a loan increased by 28%. The congenial environment to increase the involvement of the household head to an organization like cooperative and farmers group, increasing the food self-sufficiency through productivity enhancement program and creating awareness on credit utilization helps to increase credit use performance in Agriculture
Effect of plastic mulches on growth and yield of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) in Dadeldhura, Nepal
Get PDFA field experiment was conducted from February to June, 2020 at Bhatkanda, Dadeldhura, Nepal to assess the effectiveness of plastic mulches in potato production. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications comprising of five treatments viz: T1: white plastic mulch (white on black colored), T2: silver plastic mulch (silver on black colored), T3: perforated black plastic mulch, T4: black plastic mulch and T5: control (without mulch). Results revealed that the black plastic mulch significantly increased the rate of emergence while perforated black plastic exhibited highest values of all other studied growth parameters, yield components and quality parameters. The highest marketable tuber yield was obtained in perforated black plastic (6.05 kg/m2) followed by silver plastic (5.62 kg/m2), white plastic (5.46 kg/m2), black plastic (5.14 kg/m2) and lowest marketable tuber yield was obtained in control condition (4.07 kg/m2). Similarly, temperature difference between controlled and mulched condition at 15 cm depth of soil was observed up to 2.8°C with its highest value in black plastic mulch and lowest in control condition. The perforated black plastic mulch was found most economical with maximum value of net return (NRs. 1904.31 thousands/ha) and B: C ratio (5.83). This study concludes that the use of perforated black plastic mulch is most economical with optimum plant growth and yield, producing best quality potatoes under climatic condition of Dadeldhura, Nepal
Decision to use herbicide in wheat production by the farm households in Nepal: A probit regression analysis
Get PDFThe use of herbicides in wheat production is increasing in Nepal mainly due to labor shortage and higher wage rates, even if available. However, little information is available on what factors determine the use of herbicides. This study explored the major factors that affect the decision to use herbicide by the wheat farmers. The semi-structured interview schedule was administered to 343 farmers from four major wheat-growing districts. The study employed a probit regression model to identify the factors that influenced the decision to use herbicides. Educations, membership, migration, wheat cultivated area, amount of urea use were identified as the significant factors influencing the decision of farmers to use herbicides. Herbicides user farmers produced 220 kg more wheat grain yield from one hectare of land compared to non-users. This study suggests that the wheat yield of Nepal could be increased through adopting better weed management techniques