Transforming Nepal's Rice-based Agri-food System through India-Nepal Agriculture Cooperation in research, development, and capacity building
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International Rice Research Institute
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Rice underpins Nepal’s food security, rural livelihoods, and socio-economic stability, yet domestic production remains constrained by climate shocks, low mechanization, weak seed systems, and limited research and development capacity, resulting in persistent import dependence. Building on the long-standing India–Nepal partnership in agriculture, this proposal outlines a collaborative initiative to transform Nepal’s rice-based agri-food system through integrated research, development, and capacity-building efforts, with technical support from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). The project aims to strengthen seed and seed enterprise systems by accelerating cross-border varietal exchange and release under the Seeds Without Borders framework, promote climate-smart and mechanized rice cultivation—including Direct Seeded Rice and mechanical transplanting—and establish advanced breeding capabilities through the introduction of speed-breeding technologies. Complementary investments in farmer cooperatives, custom hiring centers, and human resource development will enhance access to quality seed, modern machinery, and skilled services. Over a five-year period, the initiative is expected to accelerate varietal turnover, improve productivity and resilience, reduce production costs, and strengthen national research and institutional capacity, contributing to a more competitive, inclusive, and climate-resilient rice agri-food system in Nepal.
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rice, food security, seed systems, germplasm exchange, climate-smart agriculture, direct sowing, plant breeding, speed breeding, capacity development