Promotion of Rainfed Rabi Cropping in Rice Fallows of Nepal: Review of achievements from July 2002-June 2003
Nityananda Khanal , Shiela Thapa, Ram Kumar Giri, Lakpa Tenzing Sherpa,
Kamala Thapa, Roshan Kumari Chaudhari, Bimala Rayamajhi

A pilot project on rainfed winter cropping was implemented from October 2001 to June 2002 in selected villages of four eastern Terai districts for searching the suitable technological options to intensify the rice-fallows. A socio-economic study was undertaken to understand the constraints to and opportunities for rainfed rabi cropping in the rice fallows in selected districts. The process of technological exploration and verification was started with chickpea, field pea and buckwheat. Varietal comparisons and seed priming trials were carried out on chickpea and field pea. A single buckwheat landrace from Nawalparasi was also evaluated for its adaptive observation in the system.
Drawing on the experience of the pilot phase, second phase project was started from July 2002. The project activities have been implemented in selected villages of Jhapa, Morang, Saptari, Siraha and Kapilbastu districts with the aim to identify and thereby promote suitable technological options for the intensification of the rice-fallows. The interventions primarily involved participatory varietal selection (PVS) and on-farm verification of rainfed technologies on wide range of crops including chickpea, field pea, lentil, mungbean, soybean, pigeon pea, niger, buckwheat, rice and maize. With the livelihood systems perspectives, the project has included other supportive activities such as development of local resource persons, strengthening community based seed system, establishment of agro-forestry nurseries and sensitisation about regenerative energy for the sustainability of the system.

The activities carried out in the reporting period included: facilitation for farmers’ organizational networking, community-level sharing workshops in Jhapa, Saptari and Kapilbastu, leader farmers' multidisciplinary training and exposure visits, IPM training for DADO, LIBIRD and FORWARD staff, conduction of various trials and seed production programme on rice, chickpea, field pea, lentil, mungbean, soybean, pigeon pea, niger, buckwheat and maize, monitoring of field activities by multidisciplinary stakeholders' teams and establishment of agroforestry nurseries.

Through PVS trials, rice varieties Sugandha-1, BG 1442 and Panta Dhan 10 have been preferred and adopted by the farmers for shallow water/ rainfed domain and Barkhe 2014 has been highly preferred for intermediate irrigated domain. Among the winter crops, chickpea received major focus and there were several trials on this crop. Some chickpea varieties like KPG 59, Tara and GNG 469 appeared promising in field performance and were preferred by the farmers. In nutrient management trials, chickpea responded very well to the application of boron. Cow urine spray on standing crop of chickpea also showed promising results. Results of seed priming were still inclusive in term of its effect on grain yield, but it was apparent that priming hastens crop maturity. Minimum tillage involving two cross-ploughing followed by planking appeared as productive as the farmers' intensive tillage practice. There was no effect of intercropping of coriander with chickpea on the grain yield and pod borer infestation.

Field pea was not very successful crop for rainfed, low fertility conditions. Buckwheat, niger and mungbean have appeared promising crops. Vegetable soybean was not adapted well in autumn planted condition, but two varieties namely AGS 292 and AGS 350 appeared promising as spring season crop. Maize was also not so suitable as winter crop in low fertility conditions in rice fallows.

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