HYBRID SEEDS IN NEPALESE AGRICULTURE

INTRODUCTION

The seed produced by cross pollination is called hybrid seed, in simple words. Hybridization is a technique that creates variability and increases vigor in a variety. Hybrids have high yielding ability by 15-25 percent as against open pollinated varieties. So, there is an increasing trend of using hybrids among farmers. Gaurav variety in maize was the first hybrid variety released in Nepal in 2004. However, it was not successful due to various reasons. These seeds improve the characters of the plant resulting better yield, greater uniformity, diseases and pest resistance, and likewise. Hybrid seeds are one of the main reasons for the rise in agricultural output and modernization in the world since centuries. Hybrid seeds can also be produced by open pollination and clonal propagation.

In Nepal, agriculture beholds almost 67% of peoples’ involvement in agriculture. But, due to backward technological development, research facilities and problem in adaptation to new technologies by farmers, Nepalese agricultural dependence to other countries is clearly noticed. According to a study, older varieties of seeds that were developed before 1990 are still found dominant in farmers’ field. Currently, Nepal’s capability of hybrid seeds production is only limited to few crops like tomato, wheat, rice, etc. Import of hybrid seeds contribute a lot to total imports as shown by the data. NARC is responsible for hybrid seed production. Seed companies multiplies it according to the demand of farmers.

HYBRID SEED ADAPTATION IN NEPAL

Improved seeds require high inputs like fertilizers, irrigation, machineries, climatic conditions, etc. Due to lack of these inputs, farmers still step back to choose them. In other hand, improved seed itself are not accessible in some regions of Nepal easily and at affordable price. Farmers are having trust issues with new technology seeds and are comfortable using the older varieties released decades ago that has lower yields. Thus, adaptability of farmers in hybrid seeds are seen low in our country as they have less lands and low capital so they can’t afford high cost inputs that those seeds need. However, comparing past years with present condition, some improved varieties like srijana (tomato), Gautam, NL297, Bhrikuti (wheat), etc are popular among farmers and have high demands. Farmers are slowly trusting the improved varieties and the demand % is getting higher in each season passing.

YIELD COMPARISON OF LOCAL AND HYBRID/IMPROVED SEEDS

Local traditional varieties harbor pests and diseases, phenological characters like small height, less panicles, less seed formation and low productivity after each passing generation are responsible for low yield in them. In the other hand, hybrid seeds have desirable characters according to climate, has great phenological characters, are diseases and pest resistant. Thus, they have higher output. Yield also varies according to cultivation practices followed but still the hybrid seeds yield 2-3 times of traditional seeds in general. For example: the average yield of maize in Nepal is 2.67 tons/ha while the hybrid variety recently developed, Rampur-10 has productivity 7 tons/ha.

Different improved varieties of different crops

• Wheat: Bhrikuti, NL297, Gautam, Vijay, NL971, Aditya, etc.
• Rice: Sunaulo, Sabitri, Radha-4, Sugandha, etc
• Maize: Rampur-10, Rampur-2, Posilo makai, etc
• Tomato: Srijana

WHY IS NEPAL BACKWARD IN HYBRID SEED PRODUCTION?

• Farmers’ preferred varieties are still traditional seeds and hybrid seeds have low replacement rate.
• Inadequate varietal maintenance
• Low investment in demand driven plant breeding
• Low motivation for breeders to produce competitive varieties
• Limited number of qualified breeders
• Unclear vision for developing hybrids
• Low participation of private sector in plant breeding
• Inadequate use of crop genetic resources
• Poor mechanism for receiving research feedback

CONCLUSION

Nepal being an agricultural country, the major portion of its economy depends upon agricultural production. To improve agricultural production in Nepal and enhance food security sustainably, improved crop varieties and quality seeds are the most viable ways. Thus, government, NGOs, private sectors, donors, research institutions have realized importance of seed system in increasing crop productivity and improving economy. So, they are interested to work upon this system and slowly the system is expected to achieve great targets and ensure accessibility of quality seeds to farmers. It is a responsibility of every citizen to promote modern agricultural practices to compete with the growing population. Hence, coming years would bring definite changes in seed sector of farming system in Nepal.

Writer: Rekha Pandey (Student, BSc.ag 4th semester, IAAS, Paklihawa)