Introduction: Improving farm resilience through sustainable rice production, Nepal
Rice is a staple crop in Nepal and accounts for half of the country’s agricultural production area. It is a primary source of income and employment for about two-thirds of farming households and plays a critical role in the food and nutrition security of smallholder farmers. There are multiple challenges threatening the sustainability of small farms practicing this form of rice cultivation.
We will explore appropriate pathways to sustainable rice production. We will investigate a range of mitigation options in rice farming, such as tillage and residue management, with a focus on no-till dry seeded rice technology. The proposed technology is based on the resource conservation principle, which involves sowing rice seeds directly in the field with the help of a tractor-drawn seed planter.
Direct planting of seeds avoids costs associated with land preparation, nursery-raised seedlings, and transplanting of the seedlings. In addition, since the technology does not require standing water in the early stages of rice cultivation, both water requirements and methane emissions are reduced. The no-till method contributes to the sustainable management of soil by improving the soil structure, reducing erosion, and increasing soil carbon.
