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Nepal is increasingly facing food insecurity as demand for food is ever-increasing and the country is paying huge earnings in food imports. The current average yield of major cereal crops is inherently low (3.2 t ha−1). The average national-level climatic potential yields of rice, maize and wheat estimated by crop simulation models are 8.9, 9.3 and 6.5 t ha−1, average attainable farm-level yields are 5.6, 5.2 and 4.4 t ha−1, and average farmers’ field yields are 3.8, 3.0 and 2.8 t ha−1, respectively. The attainable yields are not fully realized because of several yield-limiting factors. Our assessment revealed that the factors causing low yields and large yield gaps are weather-dependent farming with limited irrigation facility, inadequate fertilizer use, low use of quality seeds of improved crop varieties, pest pressures, and various socio-economic factors. Narrowing the current yield gaps requires increased yields in farmers’ fields using appropriate crop, water, nutrient, and pest management practices, and high-yielding stress-tolerant varieties and climate-resilient farming practices. Our projections show that Nepal can achieve food sufficiency by increasing the current average yields of major cereal crops to around 4.1 t ha−1 by 2030, 4.6 t ha−1 by 2040 and 5.3 t ha−1 by 2050. Regulation of agricultural lands, dissemination of high-yielding, climate-resilient varieties with assured water and nutrient supply, and best management practices are recommended. Innovative extension, digital technologies, and agribusiness innovations are critical for rapidly scaling out technologies across the country. To achieve food self-sufficiency, government should improve supply of agri-inputs, i.e., seeds, fertilizer and irrigation. These require a substantial investment in irrigation, assured fertilizer supply through in-country establishment of a fertilizer plant, adoption of improved crop and soil management practices and farmers’ access to quality seed of high-yielding varieties through efficient and innovative extension, and favorable policy and fiscal commitments from all levels of government.

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A Roadmap for Increasing Cereal Yields, Reducing Yield Gaps, and Achieving Food Self-Sufficiency in Nepal

  • 章节

  • 发表日期：

    2025年

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  • Kalidas Subedi,
  • Jagadish Timsina,
  • Devendra Gauchan,
  • Bishnu K. Dhital,
  • Tika B. Karki,
  • Ram B. Khadka

摘要

Nepal is increasingly facing food insecurity as demand for food is ever-increasing and the country is paying huge earnings in food imports. The current average yield of major cereal crops is inherently low (3.2 t ha−1). The average national-level climatic potential yields of rice, maize and wheat estimated by crop simulation models are 8.9, 9.3 and 6.5 t ha−1, average attainable farm-level yields are 5.6, 5.2 and 4.4 t ha−1, and average farmers’ field yields are 3.8, 3.0 and 2.8 t ha−1, respectively. The attainable yields are not fully realized because of several yield-limiting factors. Our assessment revealed that the factors causing low yields and large yield gaps are weather-dependent farming with limited irrigation facility, inadequate fertilizer use, low use of quality seeds of improved crop varieties, pest pressures, and various socio-economic factors. Narrowing the current yield gaps requires increased yields in farmers’ fields using appropriate crop, water, nutrient, and pest management practices, and high-yielding stress-tolerant varieties and climate-resilient farming practices. Our projections show that Nepal can achieve food sufficiency by increasing the current average yields of major cereal crops to around 4.1 t ha−1 by 2030, 4.6 t ha−1 by 2040 and 5.3 t ha−1 by 2050. Regulation of agricultural lands, dissemination of high-yielding, climate-resilient varieties with assured water and nutrient supply, and best management practices are recommended. Innovative extension, digital technologies, and agribusiness innovations are critical for rapidly scaling out technologies across the country. To achieve food self-sufficiency, government should improve supply of agri-inputs, i.e., seeds, fertilizer and irrigation. These require a substantial investment in irrigation, assured fertilizer supply through in-country establishment of a fertilizer plant, adoption of improved crop and soil management practices and farmers’ access to quality seed of high-yielding varieties through efficient and innovative extension, and favorable policy and fiscal commitments from all levels of government.