Rice is a principal food crop for national food security and livelihood of people in Nepal.
This study aims to analyse pattern of adoption and diffusion of newly developed improved
rice varieties. The survey employed combination of expert panels, community surveys and
detailed household interview of 600 rice farmers in 15 districts of Nepal. The findings
showed that the average rice area per household was 1.19 ha in Terai, 0.53 in hills and hill
0.54 ha in mountain. Modem rice varieties covered 94% in the terai followed by 77% in the
hill and only 8.7% in the mountain. In the hill, the top five varieties were Sabitri followed
by Masuli, Hybrid Makwanpur-1 and Khuma14 . However, in the Terai, Sona Masuli
covered the highest percentage area followed by Masuli , Ranjeet, Kanchhi Masuli and
Rmbilash. The hybrid rice area is increasing rapidly in recent years mostly in market
accessible areas of terai and lower hills. Out of 15 districts, hybrid rice cultivation was
found in 10 districts. The major of source seeds for the improved varieties are mainly
farmers own saving in all regions. The share of market purchase seed was low in all
regions but relatively higher in terai (21.6%). Older varieties like Masuli released in 1973
are still popular in the hills and terai. Newly released MVs are not adopted widely in many
parts of Nepal. Moreover, exotic hybrid varieties are becoming increasing popular
informally in the market accessible terai and some parts of commercial pockets of hills.
Therefore there is a need for enhancing access of good quality seeds of the newly released
varieties to farmers through improving and reforming seed system and effective Seed-Net
development in the country.

Rice is a principal food crop for national food security and livelihood of people in Nepal.
This study aims to analyse pattern of adoption and diffusion of newly developed improved
rice varieties. The survey employed combination of expert panels, community surveys and
detailed household interview of 600 rice farmers in 15 districts of Nepal. The findings
showed that the average rice area per household was 1.19 ha in Terai, 0.53 in hills and hill
0.54 ha in mountain. Modem rice varieties covered 94% in the terai followed by 77% in the
hill and only 8.7% in the mountain. In the hill, the top five varieties were Sabitri followed
by Masuli, Hybrid Makwanpur-1 and Khuma14 . However, in the Terai, Sona Masuli
covered the highest percentage area followed by Masuli , Ranjeet, Kanchhi Masuli and
Rmbilash. The hybrid rice area is increasing rapidly in recent years mostly in market
accessible areas of terai and lower hills. Out of 15 districts, hybrid rice cultivation was
found in 10 districts. The major of source seeds for the improved varieties are mainly
farmers own saving in all regions. The share of market purchase seed was low in all
regions but relatively higher in terai (21.6%). Older varieties like Masuli released in 1973
are still popular in the hills and terai. Newly released MVs are not adopted widely in many
parts of Nepal. Moreover, exotic hybrid varieties are becoming increasing popular
informally in the market accessible terai and some parts of commercial pockets of hills.
Therefore there is a need for enhancing access of good quality seeds of the newly released
varieties to farmers through improving and reforming seed system and effective Seed-Net
development in the country.