The Future Potential of Horticultural Plant Discovery, Improvement, and Production in Nepal Michael A
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The Future Potential of Horticultural Plant Discovery, Improvement, and Production in Nepal Michael A. Schnelle1 Extension Specialist, Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078-6027 Additional index words. Himalayas, medicinal plants, ornamentals, food crops Abstract. The country of Nepal is geographically variable and thus has significant diversity in its native flora. Because of physical and social barriers that still exist, many indigenous plant materials have yet to be adequately screened for their uses not only within Nepal, but outside its borders. Maximum production of horticultural crops in Nepal will require improved water distribution, adequate pest control, and consideration of social/demographic issues. Nepal is 147,181 km2 in size bordered by ORNAMENTAL SPECIES communities are nearly 100% vegetarian, China and India. Nepal extends along the this becomes an even more critical horticul- Himalayan range between the latitudes of Concerning ornamental plant production, tural challenge to address. Production losses 26°22# N and 30°27# N and longitudes of a plethora of ornamentally significant species occur to a number of natural phenomenon 80°04# E and 88°12# E. The country has three are endemic to Nepal. The Floriculture As- including but not limited to drought, heavy physiographic regions having mountains in sociation Nepal (FAN) exists to support over- snowfall, hailstorm, flood, and landslide di- the north, hills in the middle, and the Terai in all development of the floriculture subsector sasters (Relief Web, 2010). Some areas such the south bordering India. Approximately of the country. Participation in trade fairs, as Humla have reportedly faced food inse- 86% of the area is occupied by mountains market research and analysis, operation of curity for up to 75% of its population. With and hills with the Terai (flat terrain) account- wholesale outlets, and other endeavors is an estimated annual population growth of ing for the remaining 14% of land. Farmers underway as a result of the advent of FAN 2.132% per year, more food insecurity can cultivate crops up to 4200 m with altitude (Nepal and Its Plants, 2010). The U.S. nur- be expected. According to a current Ministry peaking at 8848 m in the north. From a bo- sery and floriculture industries could ben- of Agriculture and Cooperative report (Agro tanical viewpoint, Nepal forms a transition efit by securing widespread germplasm of News, 2010), production of vegetables in- zone between flora of the Western Himalaya Nepal’s ornamental species for enhanced creased by 9.0% to 3,001,000 t, whereas fruit and the Eastern Himalaya. The Tibetan Pla- cold-hardiness and other potential benefits in production increased by 3.0% to 705,000 t. teau also has unique species from the north U.S. locations. Some commercially available Potatoes individually monitored increased and tropical species of the lowland plains Nepalese species are Lily of Nepal (Lilium from 2.42 million t to 2.45 million t. Accord- from the Gangetic plains of India into Indo- nepalense), palm (Trachycarpus spp.), and ing to a recent Nepal Vegetable Crops Survey china. The Himalayan range contributes to a plethora of others already enjoyed outside 2009–2010, 69.3% of households were in- the diversity of taxa and has provided barriers Nepal’s borders. The genus Rhododendron, volved in some form of vegetable farming. as well as corridors that plants were able to for example, alone has 30 indigenous spe- Seventeen percent of the total vegetable far- negotiate through during the ice ages (Nepal cies in Nepal (Jha et al., 1996). Kunwar and mers are female but only 37% of people and Its Plants, 2010). Bussmann (2006) report 36 Ficus species selling the produce are females. Furthermore, Nepal’s gross domestic product (GDP) indigenous to Nepal. Great potential seem- surveyors found that 2,820,527 t produce was was $12.6 billion when accounted for in U.S. ingly exists for cut flower production, which generated from 232,295 ha of land (fiscal dollars (Nepal Microfinance Summit, 2009). is currently underway in Kathmandu but po- year 2009–2010) (Himalayan News Service, Agriculture represents one-third of the GDP. tentially feasible throughout Nepal. Growers 2010). Depending on the region of Nepal, Three-fourths of the population is supported currently are cultivating calla lily (Zantedeschia various cultural taboos and socioeconomic by agriculture. The per-capita income for 2009 aethiopica), carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus), factors influence vegetable production and was reported at $427 U.S. (World Bank) (U.S. gerbera daisy (Gerbera jamesonii), gladiolus consumption. Some of the population claims Department of State Diplomacy in Action, (Gladiolus · hybrids), lycoris (Lycoris spp.), that vegetables should not be consumed if the 2010). The major supplier of goods is India tuberose (Polianthes tuberose), and a plethora person has an illness. Lactating mothers are with Nepal experiencing a trade deficit of of orchid species (Shrestha, 2003). Although sometimes advised to avoid green vegetables $3.89 billion (U.S.) in 2010. Based on national orchids have been routinely exported to Ja- lest they harm the mother and her infant. calorie/GNP criteria, 55% of the population pan and Singapore, Nepal still has signifi- Some people feel a loss of dignity if they is below the poverty line of $1.25 (U.S.) per cantly untapped potential in exports of cut grow and sell vegetables. Lastly, vegetables day. flowers of chrysanthemum (Dendranthema are credited for adding taste and variety but Regarding land, 25% is cultivable, 33% is ·grandiflorum), gerbera daisy (G. jamesonii), are not necessarily regarded as being rich in forested with the balance mountainous and gladiolus (Gladiolus · hybrids), roses (Rosa nutrients (Thapa and Paudyal, 2009). Other difficult to cultivate. Approximately 90% of spp.), etc., to India (The Hindu, 2005). A challenges starting to be overcome are cul- Nepalese rely on subsistence agriculture with minimum of 230 families of flowering plants tural ones such as growers coping with high plants serving a critical role as arable crops, can be found in Nepal and are consequently rainfalls and proper drainage. Sensitive crops fodder, fruit, vegetables, medicines, etc. of value for trialing purposes, breeding pro- such as cabbage (Brassica oleracea) and cau- grams, etc., throughout temperate and sub- liflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) are tropical areas of the world (eFlora, 2011). routinely planted on raised beds to ensure The Flora of Nepal project has yet to come to good aeration and to avoid root rot and other Received for publication 13 Dec. 2011. Accepted fruition but would more adequately reflect problems. Some growers are using synthetic for publication 6 Mar. 2012. the rich germplasm of the country. pesticides indiscriminately with little inte- This paper was part of the workshop ‘‘Asia’s grated pest management being practiced to Indigenous Horticultural Crops’’ held 26 July 2009 at the ASHS Conference, St. Louis, MO, EDIBLE SPECIES date. Examples of other common vegetables and sponsored by the Working Group of Asian cultivated in Nepal are sweet corn (Zea mays Horticulture (WGAH). Many districts within Nepal reported a var. rugosa), potato (Solanum tuberosum), spin- 1To whom reprint requests should be addressed; moderate to high level of food insecurity in ach (Spinacea oleracea), eggplant (Solanum e-mail [email protected]. 2010 (Relief Web, 2010). Given that some melongena), tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum), 828 HORTSCIENCE VOL. 47(7) JULY 2012 asparagus (Asparagus officinalis), cucumber to date. Many of the farmers intercrop these many areas of Nepal, farmers in the moun- (Cucumis sativus), long beans (Vigna unguicu- stone fruits with vegetables. Most of the de- tainous areas often fail to collect enough lata), pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima), cabbage ciduous fruit crops are grown in remote areas water for basic needs including irrigation of (B. oleracea), and cauliflower (B. oleracea var. of Nepal without access to roads and with- crops. Multiple use water systems (MUS), botrytis). Farmers have recently been encour- out access to storage or processing facilities using gravity and a system of pipes carrying aged to grow off-season vegetables to improve (Devkota, 1999). Consequently, highly per- spring water, have been implemented by the and even out otherwise low-income months of ishable crops such as peach (Prunus persica) government to help alleviate water short- the year but also improve food supply and re- are often sold by farmers at a nominal price ages and provide 500 L of water a day for duce dependency on nearby India (Ogonowski, given the aforementioned challenges. In ad- irrigation purposes now making crop pro- 2008). Farmers in the hills of Nepal, during dition to stone fruits, subtropical fruit crops duction in these areas more feasible (Practi- the rainy season, have an advantage over pro- commonly cultivated in Nepal include but cal Action Publishing, 2011). Furthermore, ducers in India that lie in flat, poorly drained are not limited to lychee (Litchi chinensis), riverbank farming is being investigated areas. These Nepali farmers can meet a need mango (Mangifera indica), banana (Musa where producers are cultivating vegetables where the supply of Indian vegetables at that spp.) guava (Psidium guajava), papaya (Carica in the riverbanks that were thought to be time is otherwise low and prices high. Other papaya), sweet oranges (Citrus sinensis),