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Maclean et al. - 2002 - Rice almanac source book for the most important e

Maclean et al. - 2002 - Rice almanac source book for the most important e

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NEPAL is a sm<strong>al</strong>l (141,000 km 2 ) country in <strong>the</strong> centr<strong>al</strong> Him<strong>al</strong>ayan mountains b<strong>et</strong>ween India<br />

and China. It consists of low tropic<strong>al</strong> plains and centr<strong>al</strong> plateaus that rise up to <strong>the</strong> world’s<br />

highest peaks. The population in 1999 was 23.4 million. Agriculture provides a livelihood <strong>for</strong><br />

80% of <strong>the</strong> population and accounts <strong>for</strong> 41% of <strong>the</strong> GDP.<br />

Gener<strong>al</strong> in<strong>for</strong>mation<br />

• GNI per capita PPP$, 2000: 1,370<br />

• Intern<strong>al</strong> renewable water re<strong>source</strong>s: 170 km 3<br />

• Main food consumed: rice, maize, wheat, oil<br />

and fat, mill<strong>et</strong> and sorghum<br />

• <strong>Rice</strong> consumption, 1999: 93.4 kg milled rice<br />

per person per year<br />

Production constraints<br />

Yields in 2000 remained low. There are sever<strong>al</strong><br />

constraints to sustainable rice production in<br />

Nep<strong>al</strong>:<br />

• Blast and bacteri<strong>al</strong> blight<br />

• Stem borers, hispa, leaf roller, and<br />

planthoppers<br />

• Prolonged drought or prolonged submergence<br />

because of excess rain; unpredictable<br />

and erratic rainf<strong>al</strong>l<br />

• Adverse topography, declining soil fertility,<br />

and Zn deficiency<br />

• D<strong>et</strong>erioration of irrigation facilities<br />

• Cold injury, strong wind, and hail storms<br />

• Ineffective and inadequate input/credit<br />

supplies<br />

• Weak research and extension support<br />

• Popular use of rice straw as feed <strong>for</strong> livestock.<br />

Farmers often sacrifice grain yields<br />

and grow t<strong>al</strong>l vari<strong>et</strong>ies with high straw<br />

yields to me<strong>et</strong> feed requirements of <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

livestock<br />

Production season<br />

Planting Harvesting<br />

Main season Jun-Aug Sep-Nov<br />

198 <strong>Rice</strong> <strong>al</strong>manac

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