Profitability of large cardamom enterprise in Nepal?: Evidence from financial analysis

Large Cardamom is major exportable commodities prioritized by Ministry of Commerce and Supply in Nepal. However, no study has been reported for its financial analysis in the country. In this context, this study was designed and conducted in Ilam, Panchthar, and Taplejung to assess the profitability and financial viability of cardamom production. Primary data needed for the study were collected using structured survey schedule with 30 randomly selected cardamom growers from each selected district in May-July 2017. Primary information mainly compose information on investment cost, operating cost and revenue. Three Focus Group Discussions were also carried out in each district for triangulation of collected information. The secondary data were used for the Compound Annual Growth Analysis and financial analysis. The economic yield starts from the fourth year and remains similar up to 20 years. But, it was found from the study that with the proper management of the crop cultivation packages, about 10% yield starts from third year which have not been reported yet. The financial analysis result showed that, the Return on Investment was found about 160% with payback period of 4.09 years. Similarly, Net Present Value was assessed at NRs. 3,545,771 at 12% discount rate. Likewise, the Internal Rate of Return Benefit-Cost Ratio of cardamom production was 82.6% and 3.06, respectively. The sensitivity analysis with 20% increase in the cost of production and 20% decrease in the sold price rate also found profitable and viable enterprises as its Return on Investment is 34%, PBP is 5.64 years, NPV equals NRs. 2,154,393, IRR 57.6% and BCR found 2.06. Hence, the study recommends that this enterprise is very profitable and viable and farmer could invest confidently even its rate fluctuates very often

The COVID‐19 Pandemic Not Only Poses Challenges, but Also Opens Opportunities for Sustainable Transformation

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted social, economic, and environmental systems worldwide, slowing down and reversing the progress made in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SDGs belong to the 2030 Agenda to transform our world by tackling humankind's challenges to ensure well-being, economic prosperity, and environmental protection. We explore the potential impacts of the pandemic on SDGs for Nepal. We followed a knowledge co-creation process with experts from various professional backgrounds, involving five steps: online survey, online workshop, assessment of expert's opinions, review and validation, and revision and synthesis. The pandemic has negatively impacted most SDGs in the short term. Particularly, the targets of SDG 1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 13 have and will continue to have weakly to moderately restricting impacts. However, a few targets of SDG 2, 3, 6, and 11 could also have weakly promoting impacts. The negative impacts have resulted from impeding factors linked to the pandemic. Many of the negative impacts may subside in the medium and long terms. The key five impeding factors are lockdowns, underemployment and unemployment, closure of institutions and facilities, diluted focus and funds for non-COVID-19-related issues, and anticipated reduction in support from development partners. The pandemic has also opened a window of opportunity for sustainable transformation, which is short-lived and narrow. These opportunities are lessons learned for planning and action, socio-economic recovery plan, use of information and communication technologies and the digital economy, reverse migration and “brain gain,” and local governments' exercising authorities

Variation in grain zinc and iron concentrations, grain yield and associated traits of biofortified bread wheat genotypes in Nepal

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the major staples in Nepal providing the bulk of food calories and at least 30% of Fe and Zn intake and 20% of dietary energy and protein consumption; thus, it is essential to improve its nutritional quality. To select high-yielding genotypes with elevated grain zinc and iron concentration, the sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth HarvestPlus Yield Trials (HPYTs) were conducted across diverse locations in Nepal for four consecutive years: 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, and 2018–19, using 47 biofortified and 3 non-biofortified CIMMYT-bred, bread wheat genotypes: Baj#1, Kachu#1, and WK1204 (local check). Genotypic and spatial variations were found in agro-morphological traits; grain yield and its components; and the grain zinc and iron concentration of tested genotypes. Grain zinc concentration was highest in Khumaltar and lowest in Kabre. Likewise, grain iron concentration was highest in Doti and lowest in Surkhet. Most of the biofortified genotypes were superior for grain yield and for grain zinc and iron concentration to the non-biofortified checks. Combined analyses across environments showed moderate to high heritability for both Zn (0.48–0.81) and Fe (0.46–0.79) except a low heritability for Fe observed for 7th HPYT (0.15). Grain yield was positively correlated with the number of tillers per m2, while negatively correlated with days to heading and maturity, grain iron, grain weight per spike, and thousand grain weight. The grain zinc and iron concentration were positively correlated, suggesting that the simultaneous improvement of both micronutrients is possible through wheat breeding. Extensive testing of CIMMYT derived high Zn wheat lines in Nepal led to the release of five biofortified wheat varieties in 2020 with superior yield, better disease resistance, and 30–40% increased grain Zn and adaptable to a range of wheat growing regions in the country – from the hotter lowland, or Terai, regions to the dry mid- and high-elevation areas

Evaluation of early maize genotypes for grain yield and agromorphological traits

The purpose of this study was to assess the variation on agro-morphological traits and grain yield. A set of 14 early maize genotypes were studied at research field of Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Doti, Nepal in summer seasons of 2015 and 2016. The experiment was carried out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications in each year. The variation among genotypes was observed for grain yield and flowering. The genotype SO3TEY-PO-BM produced the highest grain yield (4.33 t/ha) in 2015 whereas Rajahar Local Variety produced the highest grain yield (2.52 t/ha) in 2016. The combined analysis over years showed that Farmer’s variety was found earlier in tasseling (36 days) and silking (39 days), followed by S97TEYGHAYB(3) in tasseling (45 days) and by S97TEYGHAYB(3) and Arun-4 in silking (48 days). EEYC1 produced the highest grain yield (3.17 t/ha), followed by COMPOL-NIBP (3.09 t/ha), SO3TEY-PO-BM (2.90 t/ha), S97TEYGHAYB(3) (2.78 t/ha) and Rajahar Local variety (2.77 t/ha), respectively. The information on variation for the agro-morphological traits among studied early maize genotypes will be helpful to plant breeders in constructing their breeding materials and implementing selection strategies

Exploring the Remarkable Chemotherapeutic Potential of Polyphenolic Antioxidants in Battling Various Forms of Cancer

Plant-derived compounds, specifically antioxidants, have played an important role in scavenging the free radicals present under diseased conditions. The persistent generation of free radicals in the body leads to inflammation and can result in even more severe diseases such as cancer. Notably, the antioxidant potential of various plant-derived compounds prevents and deregulates the formation of radicals by initiating their decomposition. There is a vast literature demonstrating antioxidant compounds’ anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and anti-cancer potential. This review describes the molecular mechanism of various flavonoids, such as quercetin, kaempferol, naringenin, epicatechin, and epicatechin gallate, against different cancers. Additionally, the pharmaceutical application of these flavonoids against different cancers using nanotechnologies such as polymeric, lipid-based nanoparticles (solid–lipid and liquid–lipid), liposomes, and metallic nanocarriers is addressed. Finally, combination therapies in which these flavonoids are employed along with other anti-cancer agents are described, indicating the effective therapies for the management of various malignancies