short collection of improved crop varieties

1. Improved varieties of some crops
in Nepal
S.R. Maharjan
Tribhuvan University
S.R. Maharjan

2. RICE
• Rice is the predominant cereal crop in South
Asia.
• Nepal so far has released and registered more
than one hundred rice varieties with full
package of practices within the span of about
fifty (50) years.
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3. • There are about twenty three species of rice
out of which only two species have been
known for their commercial value.
• These two species are Oryza sativa (Asian rice)
and Oryza glaberrima (African rice).
• Oryza sativa, the most important commercial
species of rice is differentiated into three sub
species: indica, japonica and javanica based
on their commercial production zones
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4. • Rice crop is cultivated under different
production environments (irrigated, rain fed
and upland) and ecological regions (Terai,
Inner Terai, Hills and Mountains) of Nepal.
• Some of the popular rice varieties among
farmers are Radha-4, Radha-12, Sabitri,
Bindeswori, Hardinath-1 in Terai, Khumal-4,
Khumal-11, Chainung-242 in mid-hills and
Chandannath-3, Kekali 1, Lekali 3 in high-hills.
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5. • Initially, exotic rice varieties from Taiwan were
introduced, evaluated and were found to be high
yielding in the Kathmandu valley.
• Subsequently, introduction and evaluation of
indica rice lines were carried out since 1959 at
Parwanipur Agriculture Station.
• After testing various exotic materials, CH-45 was
recommended as the first modern (new) variety
in Nepal This variety is still popular in various rice
growing areas where double rice crop is
commonly cultivated.
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6. • Some indica type Taiwanese rice lines were introduced and tested
in 1966. Out of these, Taichung Native-1 gained popularity as
Taichung rice in the Tarai region of Nepal and remained popular for
a long time.
• Flow of materials from the IRRI was the main source for varietal
improvement. As a result, IR8 was released in 1968 as the main
season rice for irrigated ecosystems. Four Taiwanese varieties
(Taichung-176, Chainung-242, Tainan-1, Chainan-2) were also
released for mid-hill condition (900-1500 m.).
• Similarly, IR20 and IR22 were recommended. Other rice lines were
under testing at Parwanipur before the inception of the
coordinated rice program. (NARC,1997).
• Exchange of germplasm with the IRRI started in 1968.
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7. • Of the exotic germplasm, introductions from
IRRI contributed 33%, India-18%, Taiwan-8%
and China-6%, Sri Lanka-6% and others 9%.
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8. • As of 2014, a total of 73 rice varieties have
been released in Nepal. Out of them, about 62
have been released for main-season (Barkhe)
and 11 for spring season.
• Around 60% of the varieties released are for
Terai and inner Terai, 25% for the hills and 8%
for the mountains. The remaining 7% of the
released varieties are for Terai/inner Terai and
mid-hills; and hills and high hills.
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9. S.R. Maharjan

10. S.R. Maharjan

11. S.R. Maharjan

12. POTATO
• Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the most
important crops of Nepal.
• It is used as a major vegetable in Terai and mid-
hills and as a staple food in the high hills and
mountains.
• According to the recent statistics potato ranks
fifth in area (185,342 ha), second in production
(25,17,696 tons) and first in productivity (13.58
t/ha) among the major food crops grown in
Nepal,.
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13. S.R. Maharjan

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15. following potato varieties have been released for
different agro-climatic conditions:
• Released Varieties Agro- climatic zones
• Kufri Jyoti High and mid hills
• Kufri Sindhuri Terai and inner Terai
• Desiree Hills and Terai
• Janak Dev High and mid hills
• Khumal Rato-2 Terai and inner Terai
• Khumal Seto-1 High and mid hills
• Khumal Laxmi Terai to high hills
• IPY 8 Terai to mid hills
In addition to above mentioned varieties, some TPS hybrids HPS II/67, LT-8 x TPS-13
, LT-8 x TPS 67 and Atzimba x TPS 67 are also found promising for the cultivation.
S.R. Maharjan

16. Maize
• In Nepal, maize (Zea mays L.) is the second
most staple food crops, while in hills it is a
principal food crop.
• Maize is the most important cereal crop in
the hills of Nepal, where the grain is used for
human consumption.
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17. • Disease resistant and high yielding varieties of
maize in Nepal are-
• Kakani yellow( for hills)
• Khumal yellow (for mid hills)
• Rampur yellow (for terai)
• Sarlahi seto(for inner terai)
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18. Wheat
• Wheat is the third largest cereal crop in Nepal
after rice and maize.
• Before the introduction of Mexican semi-
dwarf wheat varieties, wheat cultivation in
Nepal was limited to mid and far-western hills
only and it was considered as a minor cereal in
the country.
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19. Improved wheat varieties
• Gautam
• NL 297
• Annapurna-4
• Bhrikuti
• Pasang Lhamu
• WK 1204
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