NARC’s Role in Agricultural Research for
Development in Nepal
March 2013
Dil B. Gurung, PhD
Executive Director
Nepal Agricultural Research Council
(NARC)
Kathmandu, Nepal
www.narc.gov.np
Overview
• Agriculture in Nepal
• Major Institutions for Agricultural R&D
• NARC and its Mandate
– Major Achievements
– Challenges and Issues
– Priorities and Strategies
• Areas of Potential Collaboration
Agriculture in Nepal
• Backbone of Nepalese Economy
• Contributes 35% to GDP
• 65% of the population dependent on agriculture (Total
population: 27 million)
Cultivated land
21%
Cultiviable land 7%
Forest 39%
Pasture 12%
Water 3%
Others 18%
Total area: 147,181 sq.km
Total Population and Agriculture Produces over the Years
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
30000
1961 1981 1991 2012
%
mt
and
nu
mb
er
Population ('000) @1.4 Principal agric. production ('000 mt) @5.9
Livestock products ('000 mt) @2 Population engaged in agriculture, %
Nepal’s Share in Total Biodiversity of the World
2.20%
1.40%
2.20%
8.50%
4.20% 4%
Floweringplants
Reptiles Fish Birds Butterflies Mammals
Land share of Nepal in earth: 0.1%
Agro-eco-zones in Nepal
• 3.6 M population (out of 27 million) suffer from
food insecurity (Mountain and Hill districts)
• Poverty level is at 25% based on Nepal Living
Standard Survey, 2011
Tarai
Mid Hill
High Hill
Asia
China
Major Institutions for Agriculture R&D
Research Institutions
• Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC)
• Nepal Agriculture Research & Development Fund (NARDF)
• NGOs (LIBIRD, FORWARD, CEAPRED)
Academic Institutions
• Agriculture and Forestry University
• IAAS, Tribhuvan University
• Kathmandu University
• HICAST, Purvanchal University
• Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT)
Extension Institutions
• Department of Agriculture
• Department of Livestock Services
• INGO/NGOs
Mandate
• Generate technologies in agriculture
• Solve problems related to agriculture
• Advice policies to the Government of Nepal on
agriculture R&D 8
• An apex body for agricultural research in the
country with the goal of poverty alleviation
through the development of appropriate
technologies
• Established at 1991 as autonomous organization
Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC)
Regional
Directorates
(5)
Commodity Research
Programs
(16)
Agricultural Research Stations
(13)
Council (16 members)
Chaired by Minister of Agriculture
Executive Board (8 members)
NARC Head Quarter
NARI & NASRI,
Disciplinary Divisions
(18)
Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC)
Cross Cutting
Divisions
(5)
NARI: National Agriculture Research Institute
NASRI: National Animal Science Research Institute
10
Research Stations of NARC across the Country
Commodity Research Program: 15
Rice
Citrus
Jute
Fishery
Hill Crops Potato
Wheat
Ginger
Sheep & Goat
Commercial crop
Prioritized Areas for Agriculture Research
Major food crops: Rice, wheat, maize and
potato
Horticulture and specialized commodities:
Citrus, apple, off-season vegetables, vegetable
seeds, mushrooms
Commercial crops: Ginger, tea,
coffee,cardamom, sugarcane, jute
Agricultural policy, socio-economics,
gender, agriculture marketing
Livestock and fishery: Cattle, buffalo, sheep,
goat, swine, avian, pasture and fish
Natural resource management and climate change:
Biotechnology, soil, water, biodiversity,
climate
Research Projects and Manpower
13
243
322 365
61
286
1277
Scientists TechnicalOfficers
Technicians Finance Administrative Total
• Number of research projects: ca. 450 annually
• Number of collaborative projects: ca. 40
• Annual Budget: USD 12 million in 2011
• 0.3% of total national budget and less than 10%
of the total agricultural budget
Donors Funding Sources
Grants from
Government of
Nepal
Others (Private
Sectors)
Funding Sources (July, 2012 – June,2013)
74.5%
25.3%
0.2%
International Institutions
Development Banks
Norwegian, USAID,
JICA, etc
Institutional Partners
Department
of
Agriculture
Department
of Livestock
Services
University
(AFU, TU,
KU, Kyu Shu
NTU, PU,
MSU…)
Private
sectors I/NGOs
CG Centers
(CIMMYT, IRRI,
CIP, ICRISAT,
ICARDA,
Bioversity)
NARC Linkage with Universities
• NARC has visualized a critical role of Research-
Education linkage in agriculture technology
development and transfer •
• NARC has some form of linkage with Universities (AFU,
TU, KU, NTU, PUs) for higher academic trainings (MSc,
PhD) •
• NARC is in the process for developing formal
program level linkage with Agriculture and Forestry
University (AFU) and other Universities •
• NARC has already envisioned and made initiative to
establish Deemed to be University under NARI/NASRI
•
Contribution of Agricultural Research in Nepal
• NARC has made significant contributions in developing
and delivering new technologies for enhancing food
security, income generation, climate change
adaptation and reducing cost of production •
• Investment in wheat research in Nepal in the past
(1960-1990) has generated an internal rate of
return (IRR) ranging from 75% to 84%. The internal
rate of return from research investment in rice, maize
and wheat from 1995-2004 ranged from 84-105%
in Nepal
Contribution of Agricultural Research in Nepal
• NARC developed and promoted varieties in major
crops (rice, wheat, maize) are being adopted in more
than 80% of the crop area
• Apart from these, several crops, livestock, fisheries
and horticultural technologies are developed,
promoted and adopted by the farmers (viz. stress
tolerant and disease resistant (eg Ug99) varieties,
trout fish, plastic house for off season vegetable
cultivation, Srijana hybrid, Pakhribas pig, QPM, RCTs,
coffee & millet processing machines, etc)
8.6 56.5 69.8
3.9
178.6
64.6
152.1
227.1
28.9
496.1
51.4 33.2
92.6
24
114
Rice Maize Wheat Barley Potato
Area Production Productivity
Percent Increase in Area, Production and Productivity of
Major Food Crops over 25 Years (1984-2010)
1. Food Security
Growth Rate (%) per Year for Key Crops (1984/85-2009/10)
0.5
1.32 1.27
3.94
1.85
1.31
2.85
1.99
3.11
3.86
7.22
3.68
2.39
5.33
1.49 1.78
2.58
3.28
1.84
1.08
2.51
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Rice Maize Wheat Potato Lentil Oilseeds Vegetable
Area Prod Yield
% Y
ear
Total Varieties of 46 Crops with Complete PoP
69
24 34
6 3
36
18 9
47
4
250
Recent Achievements: Maize
• Rampur Hybrid-2 for Tarai and KYM33 × KYM35 for Hills • QPM varieties S99TLYQ-AB, S01SIWQ-3, S99TLYQ-B are
developed and ready for release
Finger Millet
Release of GE-5016 (bold grain and
quality straw), GE 5176, Acc. 2827,
533 / 2311 (for high hills)
Buckwheat
Release of first buckwheat variety
of Nepal IR13 (for mid hills)
Rapeseed
Release of Morang local and ICJ
9704
Bageswori 2
(Sadabahar)
ICP 7035
Pigeon Pea
Potato: Late Blight Resistant Varieties Ready for Release
Ready for Release TPS Variety
Cowpea
Malepatan-1
Tomato
Sirjana Hybrid
• Seed production through
public private partnership
• 3.8 kg of hybrid seed
produced in 2011
2. Income Generation
Potato Variety for Chips
PRP 25861.1
Cucumber Hybrid: K1F1
Seed production through
private farms
Top Red
Spur type
Kiwi: A new high-
demanded fruit in
Nepal
Introduced from New
Zealand
Yield 40-50 kg/tree
Washington Navel Fruit • Suitable for low altitude
• Seedless
• Matures in Nov-December
Sweet Orange
Valencia Late • Seedless
• Matures in April
• Leading variety of the world
Large Cardamom
Chhirke & Phurkey ( Viral )
Disease
Tolerant Seedlings
production through Tissue
Culture
Seedlings from seeds
Biscuits from Proso Millet
Composition ratio: 30% millet + 70% wheat flour
Biscuits from Foxtail Millet
Biscuit prepared from Underutilized Crops
Hybrid Boer Kids
Dual purpose popular back yard poultry breed
Boer Goat
Black Pig: Hurrah, Nagpuri and Saddle Back (2nd Generation)
Low Cost Pig Fattening
• 50% Brewer's residue with
local byproducts to fattening
pigs for economic production •
• On farm result: Net profit of
1977 Rs/pig in 36 weeks of
fattening period
Promising effect of Pentasulfates in Khari disease in buffaloes
Buffaloes after Medication
Before medication After medication
Indigenous Buffaloes
for milk and meat in
mid hills
Cross breeding
program is under way
to improve the
productivity
Improved breed of a
Buffalo (Murrah) for
meat, milk and draft in
Tarai
Grass Varieties in Process for Release
White clover (Laxmi): 30-40 t/ha
Jai Grass (Parbati)
Jai Grass (Ganesh): 60-70 t/ha
38
39
Year round
forage
production
in some
parts of
Nepal
Rewa (Chagunius chaguni) Hade (Labeo pangusia)
Fish Seed Production Technology Developed
Gardi (Labeo dero)
Biodiversity conservation by maintaining several
indigenous fish species in Kaligandaki
Rainbow Trout Technology for Mid and High Hills
• Fish production technology package developed
• Frys production at farmers level and
commercialized the technology
• Technology exported to Thailand and Pakistan
Tilapia Pond Culture
Harvesting size
Max: 200-300 g
Masculined 400-500 g
Production
Max: 3.5 m ton/ha
Masculined: 6.5m ton/ha
Survival: 85%
Sex change technology in Tilapia developed (92% Male)
Breeding technique for cold water
local fishes (Sahar, Asala, Gardhi,
Hade, Phaketa, Katle) developed
Gardi
Sahar
Breeding technology for
ornamental fish developed
3. Climate Resilient Varieties/Technologies
44
A. Drought Tolerant Rice Varieties
1. Sukhha dhan-1
2. Sukhha dhan-2
3. Sukhha dhan-3
4. Tarahara-1
5. Hardinath-2 Sukhha Dhan-1
Sukhha Dhan 2 Sukhha Dhan 3
B. Submergence Tolerance Rice Varieties
1. Swarna sub-1
2. Samba Masuli sub-1 • Improved through Marker Assisted Backcrossing
• Submergence tolerance (up to 15 days)
Swarna sub-1 Samba Masuli Sub-1
• Nearly 50 MT seeds of these varieties produced and distributed to
the farmers of eastern to mid and far-western Tarai during 2011
Climate Resilient Maize Varieties
Released Varieties
1. Deuti ( Drought tolerant)
2. Poshilo Makai-1 (QPM)
Promising Genotypes
1. 05SADVI (GLS tolerant)
2. 07SADVI (GLS tolerant)
3. ZM 401 (GLS tolerant)
4. ZM 627 (GLS tolerant)
5. TLBR S07F16 (Drought, heat tolerant)
6. BLSBR S07F12 (Drought, heat tolerant)
7. RML-4 X NML-2 (Released Hybrid)
Gray Leaf Spot Tolerant Maize Varieties
1. Manakamana-3
2. Ganesh-1
3. Shitala
4. Deuti
5. ZM627
6. TL03AS2
7. CLA87/C Local vs Manakamana-3
Ug99 Resistant Wheat Variety (Vijay)
48
BL 3063
NL 1064
Spot Blotch tolerant: Vijay, Gautam, NL1073
Heat tolerant (terminal heat stress): Gautam
49
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zdf{, lbks e08f/L, w'|aaxfb'/ yfkf / g'tg/fh uf}tdn] klxnf] Borlaug
Global Rust Initiative (BGRI) Gene Stewardship Award k|fKt ug{
;kmn ePsf 5g\ . of] cGt/fli6«o:t/sf] Award ux'FafnLdf nfUg]
sfnf] l;Gb'/] -Ug99 _ nufot l;Gb'/] /f]ux? cj/f]ws hftx? -ljho /
cGo kfOknfOgdf ePsf_ sf] ljsf; / ltgsf] lj:tf/ u/L g]kfnsf] vfB
;'/Iffdf 7"nf] 6]jf k'¥ofPjfkt lbOPsf] xf] .
A team of Nepali wheat scientists have received Borlaug Rust Initiative
Gene Stewardship First Global Award in 2 September 2012 in Beijing
for developing and out scaling of Rust resistant varieties including Ug99,
killer disease of wheat
Climate Resilient Technology
Urea Molasses Mineral
Block (UMMB) reduces
methane gas in the
rumen by more than
two times (7 Vs 17%)
National Agriculture Genetic Resource Centre (Genebank)
Established in 2010
Area: 2.5 hectare
Total collection: >9000 accessions
of 70 different crops
Facilities
• Short -term storage (Seed
Bank)
• Field Gene bank
• Tissue Bank
• DNA Bank
• Molecular Research Lab
4. Mechanization
Corn Sheller:
Capacity 15 kg maize
shelling per hour where as
manually a women can shell
5-8 kg per hour
Roller type coffee pulper:
Capacity is 60 kg/ hr.
Technology transferred to private sector
More than 120 pulpers commercialized
Millet Thresher cum Pearler
• Capacity of threshing and pearling
is 40-50 kg/hr
• Threshing efficiency is 97% and
pearling efficiency 98 %
Low cost Solar Dryer
• Appropriate to dry apple,
vegetables, fish ,meat
• Temperature ranges between 35-55
degree Celsius
• Capacity 12 kg/ batch (24-48 hr)
Challenges and Issues
• Yield gap between experimental plots and farmers' fields
• Increasing youth migration from rural area resulting in labor
scarcity and feminization of agriculture
• Food Safety and Pesticide Hazards Issues
• Production uncertainty brought by climate changes
• High cost of labor and key inputs (fertilizer, fuel) resulting in
less profitability of farming
• Lack of interest in agricultural profession among young and
educated professionals
• Poor incentives in public research to attract, motivate and
retain high caliber dedicated scientists
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Experimental Yield
National Average
Attainable Yield
6.7
2.2
5.7
Yie
ld in
to
nYield Gap of Maize in Nepal
3.5 4.5
1.0
Hybrid
9
(OPVs)
Priorities and Strategies of NARC
A. Food and Nutrition Security at National and
Regional Level
Development of improved varieties and breeds employing
modern tools
• Thrust on hybrid development
• Conservation of Genetic Resources
• Niche Specific Technology Development
B. Income and Employment Generation
Technology development and transfer (offseason vegetable,
seed production, livestock for milk and eat, fisheries, ginger,
tea, cardamom, honey, mandarin orange, etc)
Strategy of NARC…
C. Commercialization and Import Substitution
Development/identification of appropriate agricultural
mechanization technology
Focus of crops for import substitution viz. sugarcane,
vegetables, seed, fruits, meat, fish, vegetables, flower etc.
Linkage with private entrepreneurs and industries
D. Climate SMART Agriculture and NRM
• Technology development for stress condition
• Technology Development for Integrated Pest Management and
Resource Conservation
• Conservation, utilization and maintenance of soil, water and
biodiversity
• Development and promotion of Resource Conservation
Technologies
Current status of Collaborative Research on Livestock
Climate Change
• Project initiation workshop
• Work plan developed
• Site visits: Site selection
• Farmers selected
• Farmer’s field selected
• Baseline data collected
• Training of farmers in forage production
• Forage crops and– supply chain established
• Forage crop research
• Reproduction studies
• Breeding and AI continued Fodder Demonstration AI and Animal Breeding
Training
Inception workshop Training
Research Location
A. Collaboration in Agriculture and NRM Research
• Collaborative research in developing modern
technologies for food security:
– Integrated Pest Management and Organic Agriculture
– Biotechnology and food safety
– Climate change research in crops, horticulture, livestock, fishery
– Conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources
– Conservation agriculture
– Agricultural mechanization
• Socioeconomic, foresight and policy research
Areas for Strengthening Collaboration with Michigan
State University & Other Universities & Research Institutes
B. Collaboration in Capacity Building
• Exchange of researchers between NARC and MSU
• Research Fellowships (Two-Way)
• Post-graduate and on-job training of NARC scientists
• Technical supervisory guidance and facilities for PhD
and MS field research of MSU students in Nepal
• Research Internships for MSU students
• Partnerships in R&D at different levels
Potential Areas of Collaboration
• Developing policy guidelines to establishing/enable
linkages with teaching, extension/outreach, and
research
• Guidance in basic and applied research—crops,
livestock, forests and people
• Collaboration in further development of research
laboratories, training of laboratory scientists and
technicians
• Further development of NARC’s capacity through in-
country training in collaboration with AFU, DOA and
DLSand international partners
Think for future generation