On-Farm Rice Diversity in Nepal, the Himalayan Country: Extent and Distribution of Genetic Diversity of Rice in Diverse Agro-ecosystems

Rice is the major and most important staple food crop for the people of Nepal. It is grown in diverse agro environments ranging from foot hill (100m) to high mountains (>2600m). Jumli Marshi, a unique high-altitude rice variety is cultivated at the highest recorded elevation in the world. Likewise, in the prevalent traditional agricultural systems, there is tremendous diversity being grown and maintained by the farmers at different capacities in their fields for their cultural, social, religious or functional values as per needs of the farming communities. On-Farm Rice Diversity in Nepal, a research output of In situ conservation project - NARC/LIBIRD/IPGRI is an assessment of local rice diversity constituted in different favorable and unfavorable rice ecosystems from lowland to high- hills. The book therefore features: rice diversity structure in farmer?s fields in three major agro- ecosystems of the country ? Jumla (high-hill), Kaski (mid-hill) and Bara (lowland); use of agro- morphological traits and molecular marker traits measuring diversity and their relationships linking to farmers? perception and gene diversity.

Dr. Jwala Bajracharya is the senior scientist in Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC), the apex body of agricultural research, Nepal. She holds a PhD degree from University of Wales, UK on rice landrace diversity using molecular and participatory techniques. She has established herself as seed expert and molecular biologist in NARC.