Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the staple food crop of Nepal occupying area of about 1.5 million
hectare from 60 meter in terai to 3050 meter above sea level in high hill Jumla with the
productivity of 3.13 tlha. About 4.46% of the total rice land falls within high hill where
cold injury due to low air temperature is the major constraint in the rice production. An
attempt was made to develop cold tolerant and high yielding rive genotypes for this region
by conducting on station and on farm rice varietal research. On station research were
conducted at ARS Jumla and Khumaltar late planting condition involving 10-12 rice
genotypes during 2009-2012 in randomized complete block design (RCBD). Four
promising lines were evaluated in the farmer's field as on farm trial in OR sites of ARS
Jumla, and ARS Pakhribas during 2009-2012. These lines were compared with standard
check variety Chandannath-3. Among them NR10479-B-33-2-1-1 and NR10482-B-10-3-2-
2 were found promising and preferred by farmers due to its stable high yield over
Chandannath-3 in tested locations. Release and wider dissemination of these genotypes will
help to uplift the livelihood of high hill farmers' and help to reduce the problem of food
security in high hill areas.

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the staple food crop of Nepal occupying area of about 1.5 million
hectare from 60 meter in terai to 3050 meter above sea level in high hill Jumla with the
productivity of 3.13 tlha. About 4.46% of the total rice land falls within high hill where
cold injury due to low air temperature is the major constraint in the rice production. An
attempt was made to develop cold tolerant and high yielding rive genotypes for this region
by conducting on station and on farm rice varietal research. On station research were
conducted at ARS Jumla and Khumaltar late planting condition involving 10-12 rice
genotypes during 2009-2012 in randomized complete block design (RCBD). Four
promising lines were evaluated in the farmer's field as on farm trial in OR sites of ARS
Jumla, and ARS Pakhribas during 2009-2012. These lines were compared with standard
check variety Chandannath-3. Among them NR10479-B-33-2-1-1 and NR10482-B-10-3-2-
2 were found promising and preferred by farmers due to its stable high yield over
Chandannath-3 in tested locations. Release and wider dissemination of these genotypes will
help to uplift the livelihood of high hill farmers' and help to reduce the problem of food
security in high hill areas.