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), landless in the past (Practical Action Publish- opportunities for Nepal’s producers are in mandarin (Citrus reticulata), and lime (Cit- ing, 2011). This practice has also led to barter- Bangladesh and Gulf countries, although rus aurantifolia). Although greater fruit pro- ing with other growers for their wheat (Triticum some challenges have occurred for Nepali duction is needed for a growing population aestivum) as an equal exchange. With the farmers to fully comply with the sanitary and and to be less dependent on imports from advent of microfinancing (Nepal Microfinance phytosanitary requirements of the Indian India, a number of constraints such as an Summit, 2009), many farmers may find this as Plant Quarantine Office at the India-Nepal inadequate extension system, low priority for a viable option to farm with the assistance of border (Ogonowski, 2008). The Livelihood and fruit research, little training in fruit produc- relatively small amounts of loaned capital. Income Generation Component of USAID’s tion, etc., greatly limit fruit production ex- Organic horticultural production is often car- Flood Recovery Program has shown many pansion. In addition to cultivated fruits grown ried out but by default. Much of the produce farmers are no longer purchasing produce from in Nepal, 107 indigenous fruit and nut species cannot be properly certified to satisfy interna- India and then reselling it in Nepal but rather have been reported (Joshi et al., 2007). Many tional standards and price premiums. Further- are growing and selling produce within Nepal’s of Nepal’s endemic edible crops have yet to more, comprehensive use of water resources borders and at greater profits (USAID, 2010). be commercially explored. Despite consider- has not yet come to fruition. Less than 40% Production losses of up to 30% continue able efforts in fruit production, India is still of cultivable land is irrigated while there is to be realized mainly as a result of insects and relied on for a significant amount of fruit potential to reach two-thirds of such land. diseases that are not being adequately man- consumed in Nepal. aged/addressed. Besides pest control, weeds CONCLUSIONS are managed by hand removal or by mulching MEDICINAL SPECIES with little herbicides used or available to A number of plant expeditions have been date. Organic manure, either composted from Over 1000 plants have been used for conducted in Nepal by horticultural explor- locally available organic materials or farm medicinal purposes in Nepal (Nepal and Its ers around the world (Lancaster, 1995). For manures, are often used in lieu of synthetic Plants, 2010) with steroid-yielding plants example, genera critical to the U.S. ornamen- fertilizers. Nepali farmers also use wood ash, such as Dioscorea deltoidea and D. prazeri tals industry and abroad were collected such cattle urine, weeds pulled from planting both yielding diosgenin. These species are as Viburnum, Jasminum, Berberis, Primula, areas, leguminous crops, and other means to two of many promising indigenous phyto- Cotoneaster, Deutzia, Clematis, Euonymus, fertilize their crops. ceuticals. Diosgenin once converted into 16- Acer,andArisaema in 2001 (Edinburgh Nepal dehydropregnenolon acetate can be used as Expedition in 2001). Approximately 6000 FRUIT PRODUCTION an a.i. in manufacturing contraceptives, sex flowering and another 4000 non-flowering hormones, steroid drugs, etc. A number of plants are thought to exist in Nepal. With at A number of common as well as geo- Solanum species also yield diosgenin (Singh least 246 flowering species endemic (5% graphically specific fruit crops are grown. and Kaushal, 2007). Many of the aforemen- endemic) to Nepal (Nepal and Its Plants, High-chilling and low-chilling cultivars of tioned medicinal plants are still wild, col- 2010), the future is promising for continued apple (Malus spp.) are grown throughout lected with an acute need for cultivating them horticultural exploration of the region. Nepal Nepal. Crabapple (M. baccata) is often ger- for consistent quality and sustainable supply is considered one of the richest depositories minated and used for growing rootstocks. of raw materials. Related plants and related of plant materials in the world. With de- The Malling series of apple rootstocks have uses such as aromatic species, oil-yielding forestation, current land use, and lack of pro- also been introduced to a few horticultural crops, etc., need further exploration as well. tocols for managing indigenous species, it operations in the country. Many of the apples Over 170 plant species with dye-yielding is critical that Nepal’s flora be immediately are grown at 1800 to 2800 m above sealevel properties are grown in Nepal (Shrestha, mapped and protected before extinctions (m.a.s.l.), although some low chilling culti- 1994). Cotton, silk, leather, and wool have all commence. Reviews of plant genetic re- vars (less than 1000 h) are being cultivated at been dyed by Nepal’s botanical products. sources of Nepal can be found in Jha et al. 1200 m.a.s.l. Some apple farmers have been (1996). Many past expeditions have not ex- forced to grow their crops in higher eleva- ADVANCES AND CHALLENGES tended much beyond the capital of Katmandu. tions given that warming temperatures have There are a number of remote and hard-to- resulted in their fruits being riddled by pests The first tissue culture efforts were initi- access areas within Nepal that have yet to be (IPS News, 2010). Besides apple, both Euro- ated in 1976 at the National Herbarium and scrutinized for potentially valuable plants for pean pear (Pyrus communis) and Asian pear Plant Research Laboratory in Godawari. Since commerce. Although the catalog and enumer- (Pyrus pyrifolia) are grown often grafted then, a number of plants have undergone ation of the flowering and non-flowering plant on a wild rootstock (Pyrus pashia). Over 40 clonal propagation including at least 30 spe- materials of Nepal have been noted, there still cultivars of peach (Prunus persica) have cies of orchids, hardwood trees, medicinal is a void for a comprehensive flora of Nepal been introduced to Nepal, grafted on a wild plants, ornamentals species such as gerbera detailing identification keys, representative cultivar of peach in Nepal (Prunus spp.) that daisy and others. With breakthroughs includ- illustrations, description, local names, local also serves as a rootstock for nectarine (Pru- ing virus-free potato seed, biotechnological uses, etc. (The Flora and Vegetation of Nepal, nus persica var. nectarina) and almond (Pru- efforts will increase to meet the demand for 1999). These valuable natural resources are nus dulcis). Apricot (Prunus armeniaca) medicine, food supply, etc. (Biotechnology in critical need of being documented before introductions have not been as successful in Nepal, 2010). Despite high rainfall in they are lost or disappear (Acharya and
HORTSCIENCE VOL. 47(7) JULY 2012 829 Acharya, 2009). Better horticultural practices of agricultural, horticultural and forestry crops. Relief Web. 2010. Nepal: Food security bulletin in Nepal could expedite or otherwise slowly Euphytica 87:189–210. 28, Aug. 2010. 16 May 2011.
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