Introduction
Hill Crops Research Program was initiated in the fiscal year 1973/74 and recognized as National Hill Crops Improvement Program at Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Division Khumaltar. After one year its headquarter was transferred to the Agronomy Component of Jiri Agricultural Station situated at Kabre during 2029/30 named as Kabre Agriculture Farm. Later on it became National Hill Crops Research Program and presently named as Hill Crops Research Program(HCRP). It has been working in collaboration to Commodity programs, Disciplinary Divisions, Regional Agricultural Research Stations (RARS), Agricultural Research Station (ARS) under Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC), District Agriculture Development Offices (DADOs) under Department of Agriculture, Seed Quality Control Centre (SQCC) under Ministry of Agriculture and Development (MoAD) to generate and disseminate new technologies on mandated crops of different agro climatic conditions and seed certification. Collaboration has also been strengthening with NGOs, CBOs, Seed Companies, Agro-vets and Cooperatives.
Agro-climatically, this location represents mid hill region of the country and characterized by warm temperate climate with moderate rainfall. The minimum temperature usually falls down to 10 C in January while the maximum temperature rises up to 29.50 C in June. The average annual precipitation is 2466.2 mm of which about 60% is received during June to August.
Total area of this station is 15.77 hectares of land. Research and production field of the program is located at 27038′ North Latitude, 86080′ east Longitude with an altitude of 1660 to 1740 masl. The station is situated at 2 km South-East from Mainapokhari and is connected with motor-able road.
Goal
Improving the livelihoods of Nepalese farmers through the development of suitable technologies on underutilized crops(Fingermillet, Barley, Buckwheat, and Grain Amaranths).
Objectives
- To identify high yielding, early maturing and disease resistant /tolerant varieties of mandated crops suitable to the cropping pattern of different agro-climatic conditions
- To maintain the varietal purity of released varieties and their breeder seed production to distribute concerned stake holders.
- To produce foundation seed of different cereals and supply to the concerned stakeholders.
- To conduct on-farm research activities for verification and validation of new technologies developed at the station under farmers’ managed condition.
- To provide technical services to the concerned stakeholders on modern agriculture farming.
- To accelerate the transfer of technology to farmers through District Agriculture Development Offices.
- To conduct training for JT/JTA and leader/progressive farmers.
- To collaborate with different organizations/institutions involved in agricultural development to disseminate new technologies
Strategies
- Varietal development for sustainability and food security
- Strengthening of hybridization program
- Pest management through IPM
- Study on cropping system
- Industrialization of the crop
- Paper and electronic media to create awareness for extension in the society
- Establishment of malt barley program
- Study on malt quality
- Research work under irrigated and completely rain-fed condition
- Enhancement of seed production program
Current thrust areas for research
Finger millet
- Identify suitable genotypes from existing accessions for early type and resistance to biotic and abiotic stress.
- Value addition to promote loaf and bread industries and ready to eat and ready to cook foods.
- Decentralization of research program on the basis of adaptation (location specific) and current demand from farmers, consumers, and entrepreneurs.
- Intensify the dissemination/extension of the technologies.
- Update of the improved crop management technologies.
- Continuation of collection and evaluation of the local and exotic germplasms.
Buckwheat
- Develop high yielding, biotic and abiotic stress tolerant/resistant varieties.
- Develop recipe and products and dissemination of the technologies through audio/visual aids.
- Increase production as well as productivity.
- Emphasis on export market.
- Value addition to promote noodles, loaf and bread industries, and other dishes.
- Varietal development for higher rutin content.
- Identification for potential use of different plant parts (leaf, stem, roots etc.).
Barley
- Develop high yielding, biotic, and abiotic stress tolerant/resistant varieties.
- Study on value addition and product diversification.
- Uplift national economy through import substitution by developing malt barley (beverage factories, bakeries, instant foods and other industries). This helps for employment generation,
- Source for earning foreign currency, and check cash flow.
- Large scale seed production of malt quality barley in potential areas.
Grain amaranthus
- Development of high yielding, biotic, and abiotic stress resistant/tolerant genotypes.
- Varietal development for vegetable and grain purpose.
- Study on value addition and product diversification.
- Study and generate crop management technologies.
- Awareness on nutritional value and potential yield of the crop.
Other minor cereal crops
- Collection, characterization, and utilization of local and exotic germplasms of different minor crops including Proso-milllet and Foxtail millet.
- Introduction of different national/continental recipes of minor crops for general consumption as well as industrial/medicinal purposes.
Organization structure and human resource
Hill Crop Research Program has six major units (Varietal improvement unit, Crop Protection unit, Source seed production unit, Product diversification /marketing unit, outreach research unit and crop and soil management unit). There are one Senior Scientist (Co-ordinator), one scientist,one technical officer and one officer of each for account and administration including 12 other support staffs.
Figure 1: Organizational structure of HCRP
Researchers
- Dr. Bandhu Raj Baral, Senior Scientist (S-3)/Co-ordinator
Contact Address
Nepal Agricultural Research Council
Hill Crops Research Program
Kabre, Dolakha, Nepal
Phone:977-049-690037
Fax: 977-089-420156
E-mail: hcrpkabre@gmail.com
Website: www.narc.gov.np