The seed produced by cross-pollination is called hybrid seed, in simple words. Hybridization is a technique that creates variability and increases vigor in a variety. Hybrids have the high yielding ability by 15-25 percent as against open-pollinated varieties. So, there is an increasing trend of using hybrids among farmers. Gaurav variety in maize was the first hybrid variety released in Nepal in 2004. However, it was not successful due to various reasons. These seeds improve the character of the plant resulting in better yield, greater uniformity, diseases and pest resistance, and likewise. Hybrid seeds are one of the main reasons for the rise in agricultural output and modernization in the world for centuries. Hybrid seeds can also be produced by open pollination and clonal propagation.

In Nepal, agriculture beholds almost 67% of peoples’ involvement in agriculture. But, due to backward technological development, research facilities, and problems in adaptation to new technologies by farmers, Nepalese agricultural dependence on other countries is clearly noticed. According to a study, older varieties of seeds that were developed before 1990 are still found dominant in farmers’ fields. Currently, Nepal’s capability of hybrid seeds production is only limited to a few crops like tomato, wheat, rice, etc. The import of hybrid seeds contributes a lot to total imports as shown by the data. NARC is responsible for hybrid seed production. Seed companies multiply it according to the demand of farmers.

HYBRID SEED ADAPTATION IN NEPAL

Improved seeds require high inputs like fertilizers, irrigation, types of machinery, climatic conditions, etc. Due to the lack of these inputs, farmers still step back to choose them. On the other hand, the improved seed itself is not accessible in some regions of Nepal easily and at an affordable price. Farmers are having trust issues with new technology seeds and are comfortable using the older varieties released decades ago that have lower yields. Thus, the adaptability of farmers in hybrid seeds is seen as low in our country as they have less land and low capital so they can’t afford the high-cost inputs that those seeds need. Just three decades ago, a majority of Nepali farmers relied on local indigenous seeds. Even until the 90s, Nepal was a seed exporting country. Today, according to agriculture scientists, more than 90 percent of vegetable seeds employed in the country are imported. Nearly 30 percent of maize seeds are imported, and around 15 percent of rice seeds are from other countries. According to data provided by the Department of Customs, in the fiscal year 2018/2019, Nepal imported 424,333 kgs of vegetable seeds worth Rs 553.08 million and 4.22 million kgs of maize seeds worth Rs 393.16 million. Comparing past years with present conditions, some improved varieties like Srijana (tomato), Gautam, NL297, Bhrikuti (wheat), etc are popular among farmers and have high demands. Farmers are slowly trusting the improved varieties and the demand % is getting higher with each passing season.

YIELD COMPARISON OF LOCAL AND HYBRID/IMPROVED SEEDS

Local traditional varieties harbor pests and diseases, phenological characters like small height, less panicles, less seed formation and low productivity after each passing generation are responsible for low yield in them. On the other hand, hybrid seeds have desirable characteristics according to climate, have great phenological characteristics, are disease and pest-resistant. Thus, they have higher output. Yield also varies according to cultivation practices followed but still the hybrid seeds yield 2-3 times of traditional seeds in general. For example, the average yield of maize in Nepal is 2.67 tons/ha while the hybrid variety recently developed, Rampur-10 has productivity 7 tons/ha.

Different improved varieties of different crops

  • Wheat: Bhrikuti, NL297, Gautam, Vijay, NL971, Aditya, etc.
  • Rice: Sunaulo, Sabitri, Radha-4, Sugandha, etc
  • Maize: Rampur-10, Rampur-2, Posilo makai, etc
  • Tomato: Srijana

WHY IS NEPAL BACKWARD IN HYBRID SEED PRODUCTION?

  • Farmers’ preferred varieties are still traditional seeds and hybrid seeds have low replacement rate. 
  • Inadequate varietal maintenance 
  • Low investment in demand-driven plant breeding 
  • Low motivation for breeders to produce competitive varieties 
  • Limited number of qualified breeders
  • Unclear vision for developing hybrids
  • Low participation of private sector in plant breeding
  • Inadequate use of crop genetic resources
  • Poor mechanism for receiving research feedback

CONCLUSION

Nepal being an agricultural country, the major portion of its economy depends upon agricultural production. To improve agricultural production in Nepal and enhance food security sustainably, improved crop varieties and quality seeds are the most viable ways. Thus, governments, NGOs, private sectors, donors, and research institutions have realized the importance of seed systems in increasing crop productivity and improving the economy. So, they are interested to work upon this system and slowly the system is expected to achieve great targets and ensure accessibility of quality seeds to farmers. It is the responsibility of every citizen to promote modern agricultural practices to compete with the growing population. Hence, coming years would bring definite changes in the seed sector of the farming system in Nepal.