Exploiting biodiversity of traditional crops for mainstreaming nutrition sensitive agriculture in Nepal

Traditional crops cultivated and consumed over generationsare important components of agrobiodiversity and support dietary diversity, productivity and livelihoods of marginalized populations in Nepal. This paper outlines the value of traditional nutrient dense crops to promote nutrition sensitive agriculture by exploiting rich biodiversity of these crops through nutrition sensitive value chain development. Use of traditional crop biodiversity for nutrition sensitive value chain development can play positive role by taking into consideration not only how diverse nutrient-dense foods are produced but also how theyare processed, distributed, marketed and consumed to supply nutrient value for household nutrition security. However, presently value chains of biodiversity of traditional crops are weak, fragmented and not properly connected among sub-components of production, processing, marketing and consumption system. Considering this, focus of biodiversity-based value chain upgrading is suggested to improve their performance, efficiency and interlinkages in different sub-components. Creating enabling policy for investment in research, education, extension and value chain development is essential to exploit rich biodiversity of traditional nutrient dense crops. Promotion of organic and ecofriendly production, marketing and certification system linking with geographic indication and fair trading is suggested for mainstreaming traditional nutrient dense crops in national policies, program and institutions

On farm conservation of rice biodiversity in Nepal: a simultaneous estimation approach

"This paper presents an empirical case study about farmer management of rice genetic resources in two communities of Nepal, drawing on interdisciplinary, participatory research that involved farmers, rice geneticists, and social scientists. The decision-making process of farm households is modeled and estimated in order to provide information for the design of community-based conservation programs. A bivariate model with sample selection treats the simultaneous process of whether farmers decide to plant landraces or modern varieties, and whether the landraces they choose to plant constitute genetic diversity of interest for future crop improvement. Findings show that the two landrace choices are affected by different social and economic factors. The estimation procedure demonstrates that in certain cases, however, the decision processes are interrelated. Policies to promote the conservation of local rice diversity will need to take both processes into account. Fitted equations are then used to compare the likelihood that households targeted for conservation according to one set of conservation criteria also meet other conservation criteria. Households most likely to plant landraces identified as important for crop improvement also grow richer, more spatially diverse rice varieties. In these communities, few policy trade-offs would result from employing one set of criteria instead of the other." Authors' AbstractLandraces, Crop diversity,

Agricultural and rural mechanisation in Nepal: status, issues and options for future

Nepal is a small land-locked mountainous country with diverse agroecologies, culture and agriculture. Agriculture is a key source of economic growth, poverty reduction and environmental sustainability in Nepal. It is the mainstay of the national economy, contributing one third of GDP and providing livelihood to more than two thirds of the population (MoF, 2013). The poverty rate is declining over the last two decades but it is still high with one-quarter of its population (25.1%) living below poverty line (CBS, 2012). Food crops are the major components accounting for about 40% of AGDP, while livestock and fishery account for 30%, horticulture and cash crops 20%, and forestry about 10% (MoF, 2013)

Adoption of improved potato varieties in Nepal

Nepal is one of the top twenty countries where potato contributes substantially for the human diet. Enhancing adoption of improved potato varieties could impact on farmer’s income, household food and nutritional security. As such, using a multistage sampling procedure, a study was conducted to assess the determinants of improved potato varieties adoption in Nepal covering 180 samples in four districts, two in hills and two in Tarai region. The study revealed that; Kavre and Bardiya districts in the hills and Tarai, respectively, were dominated by improved potato varieties adoption. On the other hand, Dhankuta and Jhapa in the hills and Tarai, respectively, were dominated by local potato varieties adoption. The informal seed sources followed by agro-vet and market were the major sources for improved varietal adoption. Farmers’ accesses to training and formal seed sources were important factor determining improved potato varietal adoption. However, households with larger farm size were less likely to allocate more area for improved potato varieties as many of farmers were reluctant to take potato cultivation as agri-business and still follow subsistence farming. Potato R&D programs, therefore, need to strengthen formal seed system to enhance access to quality potato seeds and build producer’s capacity through regular training and exposer visits in order to improve adoption of improved potato varieties in Nepal

Pain Assessment in Emergency Department of Teaching Hospital in Lalitpur

Introduction: Proper pain assessment is directly related to proper pain management. The American pain society (APS) in 1996 instituted “the pain as the 5th vital sign”, in an effort to reduce the burden of underassessment and inadequate pain management. The objective of this study is to find out the practice of pain assessment and to make improvements. Methods: This was an observational study of pain assessment by the medical officer in the emergency department (ED).Convenience sampling was done at three different shifts in ED. All the data of pain assessment was taken and tabulated and analyzed to know the practice of pain assessment. Standard as set at 80%. In the first stage data collection was done for one month as per convenience. Following the observed finding, in the second stage intervention was done. After this in the third stage re-data collection was done to see the improvement. Results: A total of 503 patients were enrolled in this study. Out of this 53% (n=265) were in the first stage and 47% (n=238) in the third stage of the study. In the first stage of the study, there was 7% (n=19) documentation of numerical rating scale (NRS) and PQRST (P-precipitating and palliating factor, Q-quality of pain, R-radiation, S-site of pain, T-timing of pain) was not documented. After the intervention in third stage documentation of NRS was done in 70% (n=167) and documentation of PQRST was variable. Conclusions: The study revealed that the existing practice of pain assessment in the emergency department is poor but after the intervention, there was a remarkable improvement in the pain assessment. Keywords: Pain, Fifth Vital Sign, Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), Pain Assessment DOI: https://doi.org/10.3126/jkahs.v2i3.2665

Production, Marketing and Value Chain Mapping of 'Srijana' Tomato Hybrid Seed in Nepal

A tomato variety known as 'Srijana' developed by Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) has been substantially popular among Nepalese farmers and entrepreneurs. To understand the seed value chain of the Srijana hybrid tomato, a survey was conducted in 2014/15 with public research and extension institutions, private seed companies/firms, non-governmental organization and community group including individual farmers, involved in Srijana tomato seed production. The survey covered random selection of 30 agro-vets and 30 farmers in Kathmandu valley, Kavre, Nuwakot, Dolakha and Kaski districts, Nepal where production of Srijana tomato seed is mostly concentrated. A focus group discussion was also conducted with commercial tomato farmers in each of the study districts. The study showed a total production of 293 kg Srijana seed having a value of around 47 million Nepalese Rupees (US $470 thousands) in year 2013/14. Private sector was the dominant actor sharing about 85$ 3,000) profit was estimated through the production of Srijana tomato seed in 0.05 hectares (500 m2) of land. Agro-vets (private sector seed dealers) were the major actors for supplying the seed from the producers to farms and received a higher profit margins. The farmers producing and selling the seed in technical assistance of public agencies received higher producer`s share (66.6%) than farmers producing and selling seed through own group (60%), technical assistance of non-governmental organization (53.3%), and in contract with private seed companies (26.7%). Majority of commercial tomato farmers had complaints on supply of poor quality seed in the market. As a result, there was declining faith on the quality of Srijana tomato seed. Limited access to parental lines and poor availability of skilled human resources were the key constraints to produce the quality Srijana seed. Therefore, it is recommended that there should be a provision of efficient quality control mechanisms, and development of human resources including public private partnerships for maintaining the genetic purity of parental lines and also improving the capacities of seed value chain actors for sustainable Srijana seed production in Nepal

ネパールで２８か月にわたり連続して流行したG12P[6]型ロタウイルス： 優勢株の引き続く交代

長崎大学学位論文 [学位記番号]博（医歯薬）甲第576号 [学位授与年月日]平成25年3月19

Prospect and potentiality of finger millet in Nepal: Nutritional security and trade perspective

Millet is an important food crop for ensuring food and nutrition security of smallholder farmers and marginalized communities in the hill and mountain of Nepal. The main objectives of the study were to assess prospects and potentiality of millet by analysing the area, production, productivity, and trade for the year 2009-2019.  The study used a combination of exploratory survey and secondary data for assessing the production system, compound growth rate, coefficient of variation (CV), instability index (IIN), and trade specialization index. The results of the study are compiled and the synthesis of the analysis is presented in both tabular and graphic forms. Growth rate analysis showed that the area of millet is declining but the import value, production, and yield were increasing at the rate of 14.62, 0.47, and 0.73 percent per annum respectively. Import and export values and quantity showed higher CV as well as IIN while area, production, and yield showed lower values. The trade specialization index was found as -0.992, which indicates that millet is in the introduction phase. Out of the total millets area, 78% of the area lies in the hill, 19% in the mountain, and only 3% in the terai. The highest area and production can be observed in Bagmati province while the least was observed in province no two. The study implies that there is a need to increase production and productivity to reduce increasing imports and make the country self-reliant in millet production with increased investment in research and development and adequate support from national policies and programs