Introduction
National Rice Research Program (NRRP) was established in 1972 AD at Parwanipur, Bara under Department of Agriculture (DoA). In July 1995/96, Hardinath farm was handed over to Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC). The headquarters of NRRP shifted to Hardinath, Dhanusha in 1998. Geographically, the station is located at 93 meters above sea level and lies at the latitude of 260 49’ E, longitude 860 01’ N. It is situated 11 km north of Janakpur and 2.7 km east of Janakpur–Dhalkewar highway.
The climate at NRRP is subtropical. The recorded maximum temperature in summer is 44° C and minimum temperature in winter is 4.8° C. Maximum and minimum mean temperature of June and January is 30.8° C and 14.7° C respectively. The average annual rainfall is 1281 mm. Maximum precipitation occurs in July and 80% of the yearly total falls between June and September. The research farm occupies 42.6 hactare of land which comprises 34.49 ha of research and seed production area, 4.2 ha. for horticultural crops and remaining 3.9 ha. for buildings, road and threshing floors
Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is considered as a major cereal crop and staple food for majority of people in Nepal. It ranks the first among cereal crops of Nepal and is cultivated on 14,25,346 ha with production of 47,88,612 ton and contribution of 20% to agricultural gross domestic product (ABPSD, 2014). Out of total rice area, about 49% and 51% are under rainfed and irrigated ecosystems, respectively. The crop is grown in diverse environments where a wide range of varieties and their production technologies are required. Agriculture Development Strategy (ADS) has given top priority to rice for ensuring food security and enhancing economic growth. By 2030, total rice production must increase with 35% to feed the ever increasing population. To achieve this goal, researches on various aspects are being conducted nationwide to increase rice production and productivity. NRRP conducts rice research and development within the country and also keeps linkages with national and international organization for exchange of genetic materials and sharing experiences and information.
Mission
To contribute in poverty reduction by enhancing food security through increased productivity and production of rice on economically sustainable basis at different agro-ecological zones of Nepa
Vision
Adaptable and sustainable rice production technologies and development of high yielding, biotic and abiotic stress tolerant rice varieties for rice growers of Nepal in collaboration with related national and international organization
Goal
Development of high yielding and stress tolerant rice varieties and sustainable production technologies for farmers of Nepal
Mandates
- To coordinate nationwide multi-locations testing to identify appropriate rice varieties and management technologies for various agro-ecosystems and socio-economic domains
- To strengthen linkages with the national and international organizations
- To coordinate and monitor research networks related to farmers’ problems of national priority
- To conduct strategic and applied research on all major thrust areas of rice
Objectives
- To develop high yielding disease resistant rice varieties suited to different rice production environment and domains
- To generate low-cost package of practices for profitable rice and rice based cropping system
- To develop integrated pest management practices for minimizing environmental hazards and yield losses in rice
- To develop integrated nutrient management practices to manage declining soil fertility
- To produce quality and healthy source seeds of rice, wheat and maize
- To validate generated technologies at outreach sites and organize activities for transfer of technologies
Expected Outcomes
- High yielding, disease and insect resistant/tolerant, acceptable grain size/colour and nutritive rice varieties will be released for different domains of Nepal
- Twenty tons of breeder seed and 42 tons of foundation seed will be produced in FY 2074/75.
- Newly released and promising rice genotypes will be provided to the farmers
- Blast, Bacterial blight, Sheath blight and false smut resistant rice genotypes will be identified for sustainable management of these diseases
- Stem borer, Brown Plant Hopper and Gall midge resistant rice genotypes will be identified
- Suitable dose of nitrogen to suppress blast incidence will be identified
- Low cost and eco-friendly technologies like biological control, botanical control and cultural control of diseases and insect-pest will be identified
- Develop insect calendar for pest forecasting
- Appropriate technologies for the judicious use of organic manures and inorganic fertilizers for sustainable crop production will be developed
- Appropriate rice production technology under different agro-ecological zones of Nepal will be identified
- Recommended doses of N, P, K and Zn for rice for the economic production will be identified.
- Appropriate method of crop residual management along with appropriate weed management practices will be identified.
- Appropriate herbicides, competitive varieties, weed management methods and optimum seed rate will be identified for rice crop
- Physico-chemical properties of soil for crop yield on crop residues and nitrogen levels will be identified.
- Different crop management techniques under rice-wheat cropping system will be determined.
- Successful rice production technologies will be published.
Activities
i) Varietal improvement
- Development and evaluation of rice varieties suitable for different agro-ecological domains (under early, normal, late planting, irrigated, rainfed conditions, lowland and upland areas, spring, boro and main-season planting) of Nepal
- Development and evaluation of fine and aromatic rice
- Development and evaluation of hybrid rice
- Development and evaluation of submergence and drought tolerant rice genotypes
- Development and evaluation of bio-fortified rice genotypes
ii) Resource management:
- Development of improved rice production technologies (irrigation and fertilizer management, time and method of crop establishment, weed management etc.) suitable for different agro-climatic condition
- Identification of farmers’ problems through on-farm inspection and mitigating them through adaptive research
- Scaling up of resource conservation technologies (RCTs)/ conservation agriculture technologies to farming communities through pluralistic approac
iii) Research on crop protection
- Development of disease and insect resistant rice genotypes
- Detection of major diseases and insects on rice, estimation of their damage
- Identification and development of integrated pest management techniques
- Development of low cost and eco-friendly plant protection technology
iv) Soil science research
Improving blast resistance in Jumli Marshi, Anmol Masuli and Khumal 4 using KASP markers
Improving bacterial blight resistance in Sunaulo Sugandha and Sugandha1 using KASP markers
(Donors: IR71033, IR65482, Loktantra, IRBB60)
v) Bio-technology initiative
- Produce wheat nucleus and breeder seeds as per need
- Provide breeder seed to different farms /stations, seed companies for foundation seed production and supervise them
- Assist and provide technical advice to stakeholders in seed multiplication program.
vi) Technology development and transfer
- On-farm verification of station developed technologies through farmers’ field testing and mini-kit distribution of released rice varieties and other technologies under farmers’ situation
- Provide farmers with technical knowledge through different media and publication
vii) Source seed production and maintenance
- Rroduce nucleus and breeder seeds of rice
- Produce source seed of rice, wheat, maize and leguminous crops
- Provide breeder and foundation seeds to different farms /stations, seed companies and supervise them
- Assist and provide technical advice to stakeholders in seed multiplication program.
viii) Collaboration with other organization
Rice germplasm tested in collaboration with different national and international organizations like LI-BIRD and IRRI
iX) Human resource development
- Utilization of full potential of scientific manpower through building adequate human resource for rice research
- Creating suitable environment for motivation and retention of staff in research and extension
- Skill development training
Achievements
Release of seventy seven rice varieties suited to different agro-climatic conditions
| Year | Varieties |
| 2016 | 1 Ciherang Sub1 |
| 2015 | 3 (Sugandhit dhan-1, Radha-13 & Radha-14) |
| 2014 | 5 (Sukkha dhan 4, 5 & 6; Lekali dhan-1 & 3) |
| 2011 | 6 (Sukkha dhan 1,2, & 3; Barkhe 2014; Swarna Sub-1 & Samba Masuli Sub-1) |
| 2001 | 201017 |
| 1991 | 200010 |
| 1981 | 199017 |
| 1971 | 198012 |
| 1961 | 19706 |
| Total | 77 |
- 30 hybrid rice varieties registered till 2016
- Development of submergence tolerant rice varieties (12-15 days): Swarna Sub-1 & Samba Masuli Sub-1
- Development of popular rice varieties for irrigated areas: Radha-4, Sabitri, Janaki, Radha-12
- Development of rice varieties suited in different cropping systems: Ciherang Sub-1 and PK 33319
- Rice-vegetable
- Rice-legume
- Rice-winter maize
- Rice-wheat
- Development of high yielding rice varieties suited to irrigated areas: Sugandhit dhan-1, Radha-13 & Radha-14
- Development of high yielding rice varieties suited to spring season: Chaite-2 and Hardinath-1
- Development of high yielding rice varieties suited to rainfed areas: Hardinath-2, Tarahara-1, Ghaiya-1 and
- Bindeshwori
- Development of promising rice lines suited for different seasons
- Saga-4: Winter season PK 33319: Spring season DRR-44: Main/Rainy season
Researchers
- Mr. Mathura Yadav, Senior Scientist (S-4)/ Coordinator
- Mr. Dev Kumar Safi, Scientist (S-2)
- Mr. Chetan Gyawali, Scientist (S-2)
- Mr. Ram Dayal Yadav, Senior Technical Officer (T-7)
- Mr. Md. Farhat Ali, Technical Officer (T-6)
- Mr. Kulananda Mishra, Technical Officer (T-6)
- Mr. Bindeshwor Yadav, Technical Officer (T-6)
- Mr. Sundar Shrestha, Technical Officer (T-6)
- Mr. Jitendra Prasad Yadav, Technical Officer (T-6)
Contact Address
Nepal Agricultural Research Council
National Rice Research Program
Hardinath, Baniniya, Dhanusha, Nepal
Phone: 041-620895, 00977-9854020465
E-mail: nrrpjnk@gmail.com
Website: www.narc.gov.np