Journal of Agriculture and Natural Resources
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Distribution of the cattle ticks from mid hills to plains of Nepal
Get PDFTicks cause serious economic losses in livestock production worldwide. A study was conducted in 2017/18 to determine the abundance of tick population on different geographical regions and body parts of cattle. Three study sites were taken from mid hill, inner terai and terai region of Nepal. A total of 45 dairy cattle (15 from each region) were included randomly for the study. Regarding the distribution of ticks in cattle body part, higher number of ticks were recorded on dewlap (38.61%) followed by perineum and udder (25.10%), ear base (15.06%), tail base (9.07%), abdomen (7.34%) and withers (4.83%). Similarly, highest numbers of ticks were recorded in Chitwan (19.46 ticks on an average) cattle followed by Dang (9.13 ticks on an average) and least in Lamjung (5.73 ticks on an average) cattle. This result indicates that higher tick infestation was found in warm, moist, hidden sites with good vascular supply and thin skin in cattle body. Similarly, more tick were recorded in cattle keeping with poor animal husbandry practices
Verification of disease management technology on lentil against Stemphylium blight at farmer’s field in Nepal
Get PDFTechnologies generated from lentil (Lens culinaris Medik) stemphylium blight (Stemphylium botryosum Walr) management experiments were verified at farmers field of 5 districts viz., Chitawan, Rautahat, Dang, Parsa and Banke during two winter seasons of 2013-2014 and 2014- 2015. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with factorial arrangement of treatments and replicated 4 times. The plot size was 340 m2 (1 Kattha) with 25 cm row to row spacing. There were altogether 3 factors of the experiment i.e. year (2013-2014 and 2014-2015), location (5 districts) and package of practice (improved and farmers practice). The higher crop yield (1142.50 kg/ha) with lower disease index (34.95%) and higher benefit cost ratio of 2.42 were recorded in the farmers field of Banke district following seed rate (30 kg/ha), 8 hour primed improved variety (Black lentil), fertilizer doze of (20:40:20 NPK kg/ha+ 1 kg/ha B basal doze) and subsequent 3 sprays of Dithane M-45 @ 2.5 g/l of water at 10 days interval
Assessment of present status and action plan development of vegetable seed enterprise in Rukum, Nepal
Get PDFVegetable seed enterprise is a highly potential sub-sector for the economic growth of rural farmers in Nepal. Rukum has been known as the most important district for vegetable seed production since long time because of favorable agro-climatic condition. However, Rukums\u27 sub-sector is facing several limitations including organized production and marketing, technology adoption and entrepreneurship development. This study has been carried out to assess the vegetable seed sub-sector of Rukum and propose action plans accordingly for the sustainable seed enterprise development. The study conducted stakeholder workshop and field survey; consulted district line agencies, seed producers and cooperatives, agro-vets and seed companies, and reviewed previous works. The study found that there were many individual farmers, farmers\u27 groups and cooperatives being involved in vegetable seed production in the district. The role of private sector is emerging rapidly with higher share in the seed marketing. The public sector is still a major player for conducting research; and provision of source seeds, quality assurance and other support services. Strategic efforts and action plans are needed to push the existing traditional seed sub-sector towards commercial venture. Technology adoption for quality seed production, processing and marketing; transformation of the classical seed sub-sector into a competitive and sustainable enterprise; organized and demand led seed production programs; and coordination and participatory approaches among stakeholders in seed value chain activities are highly recommended
Effect of intercropping on the incidence of Jassid (Amrasca biguttula biguttula Ish.) and Whitefly (Bemesia tabaci Guen.) in Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench)
Get PDFOkra is one of the most important summer vegetables in South Asian countries including Nepal. However, the damage by insects like Jassid (Amrasca biguttula Ish.) and whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Guen) has resulted in significant reduction of its production. An experiment was conducted based on intercropping taking okra (Abelmoschus exculentus L. Moench) as the main crop in Arghau, Lekhnath-27, Kaski, Nepal from March 4 to May 24, 2018. The intercrops used were coriander (Corriander sativum), carrot (Daucas carota), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) and parsley (Petroselinum crispum). The population of jassid and whitefly was recorded from three leaves representing the different strata (bottom, middle and top) of the vegetative parts; and related yield parameters were also observed to correlate with the level of population incidence of these pests. Least numbers of jassids (5.50±0.29, 6.94±0.43, 8.00±0.41 and 3.69±0.76) were observed respectively at 30, 40, 50 and 60 days after sowing (DAS) in okra+ coriander. Likewise, okra + coriander intercropping was effective in inhibiting the population of whitefly (7.50±0.59, 8.56±0.19, 10.25±0.66 and 7.06±0.42) at 30, 40, 50 and 60 days after sowing (DAS) respectively. In contrary, the highest number of jassids and whiteflies were observed in okra + parsley and control (okra only). Both pod length (cm) and yield (t/ha) were the highest (17.92±0.57 and 28.20±0.49 respectively) in okra + coriander and were the lowest (16.42±0.21 and 27.58±0.39 respectively) in okra + carrot. The benefit-cost ratio was in order okra + coriander > okra + carrot > okra + fennel > okra + parsley > control (okra only). Among the different intercrop combinations, the okra + coriander was found most effective that could be suggested as one of the alternative strategies to limit the population of pests; jassid and whitefly in okra
Does program linking with insurance makes agriculture insurance sustainable?
Get PDFAgriculture insurance is most common forms of risk transfer in agriculture. It is often compulsory for borrowers of agricultural loans in low and middle income countries. This study tries to find out the status of compulsory agriculture insurance in Nepal and its sustainability through answering question “are compulsory agriculture insurance programs making agricultural insurance sustainable? Or we have to think differently for its sustainability. Household survey were conducted using pre-tested semi structured questionnaire in eight districts. Altogether 377 insurer farmers (132 crop and 245 livestock farmers) were selected from the list of target population using simple random sampling technique. Similarly, five cases were selected from the study districts. Result shows that Government of Nepal (GoN) has developed both cost of production and value based insurance products based on farmers demand. Basically, premium rate is fixed as five percent to cost of production based and seven percent to value based insurance for most of crops and livestock. Different governments programs such as youth self-employment program, youth focused program, spring rice promotion program and other grant/subsidy programs under different mega projects of GoN have started to link agriculture insurance with their programs. Insurance has been made mandatory to get such any subsidy support from the government for promoting agriculture insurance simultaneously. However, this study found that this strategy did not adequately work. But if they feel the enterprises is risky and realize the importance of agriculture insurance and can get higher returns from the enterprises, they were willing to participate in agriculture insurance. Most of farmers who participated in government grant program have limited understanding of crop insurance so that they have discontinued insurance after the end of grant/subsidy program. Therefore, it is necessary to revisit the existing provision of grant linked insurance and need to focus more on creating awareness on importance of agriculture insurance for its sustainability
Effect of heat stress on crossbred dairy cattle in tropical Nepal: Impact on blood parameters
Get PDFChitwan district of Nepal has been known as the dairy kingdom of the country considering its strategic location andpotential to easily provision inputs and produce as well as market quality milk across the country. However, theclimate especially during summer has been a challenge to farmers that potentially compromise the daily milk yieldof cows. Therefore, sixteen crossbred dairy cattle were placed in a RCBD fashion to assess the impacts of cold waterbathing in ameliorating effect of heat stress on their performance and body physiology. Routine assessment of themicroclimate within the experimental shed and blood parameters was made. The results from the experimentinferred that frequency of bathing (none, once, twice or thrice a day) did not have any significant impact onHaemoglobin, Haematocrit, Sodium, Potassium, Chloride and Bicarbonate levels in the blood plasma(p>0.05). Inaddition, the animals did not exhibit any signs of physiological distress clinically either. A detailed study scopingtemperature humidity index and over a number of other milk and blood parameters are to be tested across a numberof other available breeds too in order for the researchers to come to a meaningful strategy to beat the heat stress