SEED PRODUCTION AND SUPPLY IN NEPAL; PART I : TECHNICAL ANALYSIS AND PROPOSAL

One of the requirements for exploiting these avenues is continual development of improved, higher yielding, more efficient crop varieties adapted to the diverse eco-zones in the country. Another requirement is provisions for an adequate supply of the inputs needed by farmers to take advantage of the improved production technology to include seed, fertilizer, pesticides, water, and credit. The focus here is on input supply, especially the supply of seed of improved crop varieties. The report details discussions of the general agricultural background in Nepal, the seed production and supply background, the present status of the seed program in Nepal, and the proposed seed production and supply project. Expanding and improving the seed program in Nepal will require: more efficient and effective organization, more adequate facilities, more and better trained personnel, and a stronger commitment on the part of agencies involved to develop and improve seed production and supply. Long-term technical assistance is proposed. There is a need for an external advisor experienced in the full spectrum of seed operations and their management under developing country conditions. There is also a need for a seed technologist or seed engineer experienced in harvesting, drying, processing, and storage operations, and in the maintenance of facilities. Adaptive, problem-solving type research is required to resolve the many technical problems that plague the seed program in Nepal.