Introduction
Directorate of Agricultural Research was established in 1960 as an “Agriculture Farm” and brought under Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) since 1991. Afterwards, various activities/programs were added to develop this directorate to the present state. Horticultural program was initiated since 1976, and goat research program since 1996. As a multidisciplinary research station, research on various crops (cereal, grain legume and oil seed) commodities and disciplinary research including pasture/forage/livestock (goat) and horticulture is conducted at the directorate. This directorate is being developed as the main research centre for grain legumes.
Geography, Soil types and Climate
DoAR, Nepalgunj is located at Khajura VDC of Banke district. Geographically, it lies between at 810 37” East longitudes and 280 06” North lattitude and an altitude of 181 meters above mean sea level. Average annual rainfall of the directorate is 1000-1500 mm. However, delayed onset and early termination of monsoon rains is a regular feature, causing occasional failure of annual crops in the region. The maximum and minimum temperature at the station is 460C and 5.40C respectively, with relative humidity (R.H.) ranging between 27 to 94%. Humidity remains low in most parts of the year. Soils of the directorate have sandy to silty loam, poor in organic carbon and available N but medium in available P2O5 and K2O, pH varies from 7.2-7.5.
Vision
Improved livelihood of far western hills and mountain people through increasing productivity of cereals, grain legumes, vegetables, forage and ornamentals plants.
Land Area and Utilization
Details of land utilization of RARS, Khajura.
| Description | Area (Ha) |
| Total land area | 75.50 |
| Cultivated area | 57.00 |
| Crop development program | 35.00 |
| Horticulture development program | 4.50 |
| Horticulture development program (Grape) | 12.00 |
| Goat shed and natural pasture | 5.50 |
| Road and canals | 6.00 |
| Buildings and other constructions | 12.50 |
Mandate
To help increase agricultural productivity and production in province 5 through generation of appropriate, efficient, sustainable and environmental friendly agricultural technologies, production of source seed and provision of technical services to the clients
Objectives
- Generation of technologies in different areas of agriculture (cereals, grain legumes, oilseed crops, horticulture, livestock and pasture) in partnership with various institutions involved in the development of agriculture
- Conduct series of on-farm research in different areas of agriculture in collaboration with partners (Government of Nepal, agricultural extension agents, INGOs, NGOs, farmers, farmers’ groups, agro-entrepreneurs) for increasing disseminating rate of proven technologies developed from NARC Research Stations or elsewhere
- Support in the implementation of national and international collaborative research projects
- Identification, documentation and improvement of the locally available technologies in different areas of agriculture
- Provide diagnostic services for diseases, insects, pests and soil related problems
- Production of breeder and foundation seeds for cereal crops, grain legumes and oil seeds other improved seeds (vegetables, pasture and forage), improved fruit saplings and improved breeds of goats
- Increase coordination between the national and international institutions that are involved in the research and development of agriculture in province 5
Strategies
Enhancing food, economic and nutritional security of farmers
- Develop high and quick yielding varieties of crops, horticulture and breeds of livestock
- Initiate research on hybrid seed (rice, maize and vegetables) and fisheries
- Develop varieties, breeds and other technologies for drought and other stresses (disease, insect/pest, salinity, cold etc)
- Focus on quality seed production, distribution and develop and implement seed village concept for seed self sufficiency
- Initiate crop modeling farming system (APSIM) to predict and improve the crop production, productivity
- Initiate research on quality breeding on crops, horticulture and livestock (Carotene rich lines in rice, high quality protein content maize and soyabean, micro-nutrient rich lines in lentil)
- Emphasize research on high value crops, cash crops/industrial crops, livestock, fisheries, grain legumes, fodder and pasture
- Develop technologies on post harvest and value addition of agricultural commodities
- Develop cost effective, profitable and eco-friendly agricultural technologies
- Develop high nitrogen fixing varieties of crop
Increasing investment on agricultural
- Develop effective mechanisms for identification, collection and priority setting of agricultural problems and addressing them
- Identify the promising agricultural sectors and issues and focus on developing remunerative technologies
- Emphasize on basic and analytical research
- Continue lobbying for establishing agricultural research on investment priority of the government
- Collection, conservation, characterization and improvement/promotion of local landraces and local indigenous knowledge on crops, horticulture, livestock and fisheries
- Develop mechanisms for germplasm sharing/exchange with neighboring countries
- Establish regional gene bank/collection center
- Develop RARSN as a lead centre for Mango, Grape, Aonla, Bael, Baer, Banana and Taro in horticulture and Lentil, Chick Pea and Pigeon Pea in grain legumes
- Focus researches on organic farming, natural resource management and utilization, climate change (climate forecasting)
Conservation, utilization and promotion of natural resources and biodiversity
- Collection, conservation, characterization and improvement/promotion of local landraces and local indigenous knowledge on crops, horticulture, livestock and fisheries
- Develop mechanisms for germplasm sharing/exchange with neighboring countries
- Establish province gene bank/collection center
- Develop DoARN as a lead centre for Mango, Grape, Aonla, Bael, Baer, Banana and Taro in horticulture and Lentil, Chick Pea and Pigeon Pea in grain legumes
- Focus researches on organic farming, natural resource management and utilization, climate change (climate forecasting)
Ensuring effective dissemination and adoption of agricultural technologies
- Establish one door research at national (and province, local) level
- Build on research programs based on farmers need and problems, RATWG/VLW suggestions, monitoring and evaluation reports, technology adoption and impact studies
- Train SMS on new agricultural technologies
- Disseminate technologies through RATWG, Village Level KRISHI SAWAL Workshops, Farmers Field Day, Model Technology Village, Outreach research programs, Publication, documentaries, FM/radio/TV programs
- Coordinate and collaborate with research stations, extension agencies and farmers at national and international level
Human and other resources and infrastructure management
- Coordination and collaboration with other research stations, Outsourcing of experts, capacity building of staff
- Judicial use and mobilization of available resources
- Acquire resources from sources besides NARC
- Revive and repair soil, pathology, entomology lab, green house and other farm machineries and equipments
- Establish province scientific laboratory
Outreach Sites
1. Thakurbaba Municipality-3, Mirchiya, Bardiya
2. Sibaraj Municipality-3, Sonbarsi, Chanrauta, Kapilvastu
NARC Technology Village (NTV)
1. Lamahi Muncipality-2, Kerbaniya, Dang
Research Achievements
- The directorate has made remarkable contribution for releasing Sukkha Dhan-1, Sukkha Dhan-2 and Sukkha Dhan-3 varieties of rice and these varieties performed better in terms of yield ranged 0.8–1.0 ton per hectare under drought condition over traditional varieties.
- In drought condition, IR82635-B-B-145-1, IR 80461-B-7-1, IR 80463-B-39-3, IR81432-B-B-150, IR79915-B-B-83-4-1, IR81063-B-94-4-3-3, IR8896-B-B-68-B have been found promising having good yield (about 3.5 tons/ha) and satisfactory yield even in 45 days old seedlings.
- Similarly the station contributed for releasing rice varieties like Shambha Mashuri sub-1, Sworna sub-1 varieties which are suitable for submergence condition.
- The station has a significant contribution in releasing a black/ stem rust (Ug99) resistant variety ‘Vijaya’. Promising genotypes,Danfe (NL1064), Frankolin (NL1073), NL 1053 against stem rust has been identified.
- Station has identified the numbers of wilt root rot resistant genotypes in pigeon pea, lentil and chick pea through its wilt screening nursery.
- Pigeon pea: NP02 -5-1, ICPL3995, ICPL99089, NP02-1-9, NP02-1-3, NP02 -5-20, NP02 -1-41, NP02-3-8, etc.
- In chickpea genotypes: ICCV03107, ICCV03213, ICCV04105, ICCV04106, ICCV05109, ICCV05110, ICCV92337, ICCV93207, ICCV95432, ICCV03111, KPG59
- Lentil genotypes: Arun, ILL6465, ILL8188, LN00137 PL406, ILL7162, ILL7164(RC), ILL7723.
- Two low ODAP (Oxalyl diamino propionic acid) Lines; LHH-0012 (2715 kg/ha), 26.2 (2501 kg/ha), DL7-1 (2483 kg/ha) and 38.1(2415 kg/ha) in lathyrus with better performance in grass and seed production have been identified.
- SQUASH-Tondo variety has been found extra early in comparison to Bullum House and Sunny House, but farmers have higher preference on the Bullum House and Sunny House varieties
- CUCUMBER-Kamini variety has been found superior than other varieties in terms of yield, disease pest resistance, taste, longetivity, farmers preference
- Two superior POTATO-TPS genotypes, HPSII/67 (2.62kg/m2), C98HT-200.14xC99HT-2-58.1 (2.59kg/m2) resistant to late blight have been identified. And two potato clones; 393077.159 (22.8 Mt/ha), 394003.161 (20.99 Mt/ha) have been found superior than other clones in terms of yield and disease resistance.
- Two superior genotypes; CI 9803 (20.75 Mt/ha), CI 0209 (19.82 Mt/ha) of TURMERIC for terai conditions have been identified.
Researchers
- Dr. Samid Ahamad, Senior Scientist (S-4)/Director
- Mr Jagnnath Banjade, Scientist (S-2)
- Mr. Sagar Maharjan,Technical Officer (T-6)
- Mr. Suman Bohara,Technical Officer (T-6)
- Ms. Hema Kumari Poudel, Technical Officer (T-6)
- Mr. Hari Prasad Sharma, Technical Officer (T-6)
- Mr. Chandra Prakash Upadhyay (T-6)
- Ms. Jharana Upadhyay (T-6)
Contact Address
Nepal Agricultural Research Council
Directorate of Agriculture Research
Lumbini Province, Khajura, Banke
Phone: 977-81-621226
E-mail: doarkhajura.narc@gmail.com
Website: www.narc.gov.np