Abstract Only

The research partnership between the Nepal Agriculture Research Council (NARC) and CIMMYT has made a significant impact in ensuring food and nutrition security in Nepal through increased wheat production. In the last 50 years, the introduction of semi-dwarf varieties and other co-created innovations in research and development have led to a seven-fold increase in wheat area and a 14-fold increase in production; that is, more than a doubling of productivity. In the process, 34 varieties were released. In the last five years (2005-06 to 2010-11), the area increased from 0.67 to 0.77 m ha, production increased from 1.44 to 1.85 m t and productivity from 2.07 to 2.412 t/ha. Recent NARC-CIMMYT collaboration played an instrumental role in development, release and dissemination of agronomically superior Ug99-resistant varieties Vijay, Gaura and Dhaulagiri in the last three years, and Danphe 1 and Francolin are in the release process. Seed production of resistant varieties for 2012-13 was sufficient to cover 5.4% of the wheat area. Female farmer engagement in setting varietal selection criteria and evaluation through participatory varietal selection (PVS) has enhanced successful identification and deployment of farmer-preferred varieties. This was more successful in hilly areas where seed networking systems and linkages are weaker. PVS conducted at more than 70 sites annually has enhanced genetic diversity. The collaboration led to increased local knowledge of rust resistance genes and their use in breeding and pathogen virulence monitoring. Increased capacity building and an increased awareness of the need for resistant varieties and pre-release seed multiplication by farmers, the seed industry, planners and the national agricultural system has been achieved.

Global Wheat Program

Text in English

INT2917

CIMMYT Staff Publications Collection