Cereal Crops

Cereals (rice, wheat and maize) are major commodities of this region. This region contains about one third area of total rice cultivation in the country. Farmers in this region are now motivated to grow fine and aromatic rice. Wheat and maize are also grown in large area in this region. Winter legumes (lentil, chickpea) are also gaining popularity in the areas. At present, climate change has posed both drought as well as flash floods in the region affecting rice-wheat systems adversely. Considering these facts, strategies of the crop research are formulated as follows.

  • Development and promotion of stress tolerant rice varieties
  • Selection and development of fine and aromatic rice varieties
  • Identification of early maturing wheat varieties to escape hot westerly wind during grain filling stage and identification of varieties tolerant to heat and hot wind during grain filling stage
  • Selection and development of suitable wheat (sterility free) and maize varieties for ETR
  • Integrated nutrient management and crop intensification/ diversification using different legumes/cash crops to enhance productivity and sustainability of cropping system 6
  • Development of integrated pest management (IPM) packages for the control of pest and diseases
  • Integration of crop/livestock/horticultural/commodity for improvement of soils and better economic return
  • Production and maintenance of quality and reliable seed for its availability to the farmers of ETR
  • This station could be developed as a center of excellence for agricultural research, training and laboratory services

Horticulture

This area is one of the important areas for tropical fruits. Similarly mango and litchi are major tropical fruits in this region. Similarly, coconut and areca nut are widely grown in eastern Terai (Jhapa and Morang). Large numbers of vegetable species are grown in summer and winter season. Farmers in this area encounter with several problems on these horticultural crops. Considering these facts, strategies of the horticultural crop research are formulated as follows:

  • Focus research on coconut and areca nut (production and post harvest processing)
  • Conservation and evaluation of tropical fruits for sustainable research and development 7
  • Technology development on post harvest/fruit processing (jam, jelly, drying technology)
  • Technology development on normal season and off-season vegetable production and post harvest storage 
  • Research and development of hybrid vegetables seed production
  • Production and distribution of foundation seeds of vegetables and fruit saplings