Summary
Prepared by AI. Editorial review completed.
- In the first 11 months of the current fiscal year, Nepal imported 2,993 tons of rice seeds worth NPR 129.94 million.
- Due to insufficient development and production of indigenous hybrid rice varieties, farmers have become reliant on foreign hybrid seeds.
- Despite government slogans advocating self-reliance in rice seed production, imports are steadily increasing because of hybrid seed shortages and weak formal seed production systems.
June 29, Kathmandu – Today marks the 23rd National Rice Day in Nepal. The government is celebrating this year under the rallying call “Climate-Friendly Technology, Self-Reliance, and Prosperity in Rice.” However, while promoting the slogan of self-reliance in rice, Nepal continues to import over NPR 100 million worth of rice seeds annually.
Although the government claims that domestic rice seed production is sufficient to meet internal demand, farmers’ preference for advanced and especially hybrid (Varna Shankar) varieties has resulted in continued dependence on imported seeds.
According to data from the Department of Customs, rice seed imports have increased by 11.42% compared to last year. During the first 11 months of fiscal year 2082/83 (mid-July to mid-June), Nepal imported rice seeds amounting to NPR 129.94 million. In the same period last year, imports were NPR 116.62 million.
This represents an increase of NPR 13.31 million in import value compared to the previous year.
In terms of volume, rice seed imports also rose. From 2,570 tons imported last year in the same period, imports reached 2,993 tons this fiscal year.
More than 99% of Nepal’s imported rice seeds come from neighboring India and China. India alone supplied NPR 114.25 million worth of 2,669 tons of rice seeds over 11 months.
China accounted for NPR 15.67 million worth of 324 tons of seeds. Nepal’s imports from third countries remain negligible and mostly pertain to testing or special purposes.
Rice seeds have also been imported in small quantities from Vietnam (148 kg), the UK (12 kg), Qatar and the UAE (5 kg each), and Saudi Arabia (3 kg).
The stark contrast between government claims of burgeoning self-reliance in seed production and the reality of over NPR 100 million worth of annual seed imports highlights a significant gap between Nepal’s agricultural research output and farmers’ needs.
Demand at 71,000 Tons, Production at 78,000 Tons: Why Imports Persist?
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Environment, rice cultivation covers approximately 1.3 to 1.45 million hectares in Nepal. Dr. Mathur Yadav, coordinator of the National Rice Research Program, explains that at an average requirement of 50 kg seed per hectare, Nepal needs around 71,000 tons of rice seed annually.
While domestic seed production routinely exceeds demand, a lack of sufficient hybrid seed varieties compels farmers to rely on imports.
“Statistically, we are self-reliant in seed production. Last year, internal production ranged between 70,000 and 78,000 tons,” said Dr. Yadav. “However, 77% of our total seed system is informal – farmers reuse or exchange old seeds, while only 23% of seeds come from formal certified sources.”
He notes that about 3,000 tons of seed imports occurred last year, 90% of which were hybrid varieties.
Hunger for Hybrids and Lack of Indigenous Varieties
The Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) has developed over 150 improved rice varieties, but only two hybrid varieties have been developed in Kathmandu—an extremely limited choice for farmers attracted to hybrids.
Dr. Prakash Acharya, senior crop development officer at the Seed Quality Control Center, says farmers are compelled to depend on foreign hybrid seeds due to lack of suitable domestic alternatives.
“Indigenous hybrid varieties such as Khumal series, Hardinath, and Savitri are produced locally, but only two indigenous hybrid rice types—Hardinath Hybrid-1 and Hardinath Hybrid-3—are available,” he explained. “With growing farmer interest in hybrid rice, insufficient domestic hybrid seed supply forces reliance on imported seeds.”
Dr. Acharya emphasizes that breaking the dominance of foreign hybrids requires increased government investment in hybrid research.
He further explained that different rice varieties have been recommended for Nepal’s diverse geography and climate: Chaite-5 and Hardinath-1 for spring season rice; Hardinath-6, Hardinath-5, Ram Dhan, Radha-4, and Savitri for monsoon season; and various Khumal series and others suited for hill and high-hill areas.
Although other domestic varieties are produced within Nepal, Dr. Acharya insists that a special policy is needed to challenge the dominance of foreign hybrid seeds.
“The key is that the government must ramp up investment in hybrid rice research and production,” he said. “Until adequate development of our own hybrid rice varieties happens, foreign varieties will dominate and farmers will remain dependent on imported seeds.”
NARC Acknowledges Dependence on India Through Informal Channels
With primary responsibility for producing breeder seed, the Nepal Agricultural Research Council’s production capacity is extremely limited.
NARC spokesperson Dr. Bhanubhakta Pokharel admits that a weak formal seed production system forces dependence on foreign markets. He noted that urbanization and migration have reduced cultivable land.
“For 1.4 million hectares of rice land, NARC’s breeder seed production is far below requirements,” Dr. Pokharel said. “We produce about 200 tons of breeder seed from farms in Nepalgunj’s Khajura, Bhairahawa, Parwanipur, and Tarhara.”
Even after multiplication by farmer groups and private companies, this volume is insufficient.
“Our formal seed production system is inadequate,” he added. “Informally, we are almost entirely reliant on India. Because of open borders, farmers sometimes bring in seeds themselves, but there’s no official data on this.”
Nevertheless, there is some cause for optimism. According to Dr. Yadav, aside from government farms in Janakpur, Tarhara, and Chandragadhi, private sector companies have recently shown increased interest in seed production.
“In Lumbini Province alone, about 31 private seed companies are registered and actively operating,” he said. “Various private companies in Sudurpashchim and Madhesh provinces are also producing improved seed varieties.”
Rice Seed Imports Over Recent Years
Nepal has spent significant sums annually importing rice seeds. According to Department of Customs data, in fiscal year 2081/82, 2,570.7 tons of rice seed valued at NPR 116.67 million were imported.
The previous fiscal year, 2080/81, saw 2,107.46 tons imported at a cost of NPR 88.69 million.
In 2079/80, imports amounted to 1,883.09 tons valued at NPR 75.64 million, while fiscal year 2078/79 recorded 5,115.07 tons worth NPR 87.06 million.
Analysis shows that the highest quantity of seed imports occurred in fiscal year 2077/78, when Nepal imported 45,284.61 tons of rice seed at a cost of NPR 217.39 million.
