In Nepal, rice is cultivated in I. 59 millzon hectares with production of about 4. 45 million
tons of rough rice in 2003/04. as rice is grown W1der diverse soil and climatic condition,
the growth in rice production is low (grain yield 2.07% per annum), compared to the
rate of population growth (2.2% per annum). Thus Nepal has become a net rice
importing country with imports worth 75 crore rupees from India during 2002/03.Rice
yields are low and large yield gap exist between what farmers are harvesting in their
rice fields and what has been demonstrated by research. So. there is need to meet the
growing food demand by developing environment friendly site specific crop and resource
management technologies that will help farmers realize the full potential of new rice
varieties.Limited access to new technology and information, inappropriate technology
(poor farmer adoption) specially in rainfed areas, problems of product quality anCJ
timely delivery of .inputs and inadequate policy supports are identified as major
constraints to rice production in Nepal. New management system should be developed
and extended to farmers to optimize input use, increase efficiency and cut production
costs. A conducive policy environment is similarly needed for rapid diffusion of these
improved technologies. Rice research programs to increase the rice yield and close the
existing rice yield gap to enhance farmer's income and livelihood in Nepal are _identified
and discussed.

In Nepal, rice is cultivated in I. 59 millzon hectares with production of about 4. 45 million
tons of rough rice in 2003/04. as rice is grown W1der diverse soil and climatic condition,
the growth in rice production is low (grain yield 2.07% per annum), compared to the
rate of population growth (2.2% per annum). Thus Nepal has become a net rice
importing country with imports worth 75 crore rupees from India during 2002/03.Rice
yields are low and large yield gap exist between what farmers are harvesting in their
rice fields and what has been demonstrated by research. So. there is need to meet the
growing food demand by developing environment friendly site specific crop and resource
management technologies that will help farmers realize the full potential of new rice
varieties.Limited access to new technology and information, inappropriate technology
(poor farmer adoption) specially in rainfed areas, problems of product quality anCJ
timely delivery of .inputs and inadequate policy supports are identified as major
constraints to rice production in Nepal. New management system should be developed
and extended to farmers to optimize input use, increase efficiency and cut production
costs. A conducive policy environment is similarly needed for rapid diffusion of these
improved technologies. Rice research programs to increase the rice yield and close the
existing rice yield gap to enhance farmer's income and livelihood in Nepal are _identified
and discussed.