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Crop Diversification in the Asia-Pacific region - United Nations in ...

Crop Diversification in the Asia-Pacific region - United Nations in ...

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Uplandb) HillsMaize - MustardIrrigated LowlandRice - Wheat - MaizeRice - Potato - MaizeRice - Wheat - VegetableRice - Lentils - VegetablesRice - Vegetables - RiceUplandMaize + Millet - Black gram - FallowMaize - Millet - VegetablesMaize + Legumes - Potato - FallowMaize + Ghaiya - Vegetables - FallowGhaiya - Legumes - Fallowc) Mounta<strong>in</strong>sMaize - Vegetable - FallowPotato - Potato - FallowMaize - Wheat - FallowNiger - Potato - FallowMaize - Fallow - FallowWhe<strong>the</strong>r irrigated or ra<strong>in</strong>fed, rice is <strong>the</strong> staple crop of <strong>the</strong> lowland. This is becauserice is <strong>the</strong> staple food commodity of <strong>the</strong> Nepalese people. It is considered a prestigious crop<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> society. In <strong>the</strong> lowlands wheat is ano<strong>the</strong>r important food commodity. Both <strong>the</strong>se cropsare consumed by every family.Similarly, maize is <strong>the</strong> second most important food crop <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> hills. This is ma<strong>in</strong>lygrown for family consumption. Farmers also sell it if <strong>the</strong>y have surplus production. In manyhill areas, millet is ano<strong>the</strong>r important food item. Hill farmers feel that millet is highlynutritious for <strong>the</strong>m.In high hills or mounta<strong>in</strong>s, potato is <strong>the</strong> ma<strong>in</strong> crop taken as food followed by maize,buckwheat, barley etc. Because of <strong>the</strong> cold climate, farmers of this area harvest mostly onecrop <strong>in</strong> a year.In every agro-ecological zone, priority is given to food crops first and <strong>the</strong>n to cashcrops. People need food crops for meet<strong>in</strong>g household needs and cash crops for <strong>in</strong>comegeneration. Traditionally, farmers grow every sort of possible crop needed for homeconsumption. This is <strong>the</strong> reason why <strong>the</strong>re are ma<strong>in</strong>ly two types of cropp<strong>in</strong>g patterns,namely rice based <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> lowlands and maize based <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> uplands.88

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