Food Legumes Research and Production

in Nepal1
N.K.YADAV2, A. SARKER3, R. DARAI 2 and B.N. ADHIKARI2
NEPAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH COUNCIL, NEPAL2
ICARDA, SYRIA3

Introduction
• Agriculture is predominant in Nepal; where 66% of populations
depend on Agriculture for their livelihood and shares 38.81% GDP
(MOAC, 2004)
• Grain legumes usually called pulses in Nepal
• Grain Legumes covers(316010 ha )about 10% total cultivated land
(3091000ha)and ranked 4th in terms of area and production after
Rice, Maize and Wheat
• National average productivity is 840 kg/ha (MOAC, 2004)
• Lentil, chickpea and grass pea in winter and black gram ,pigeon
pea, soybean, horse gram, mung bean and cowpea in summer are
major legumes in Nepal
• Lentil is the single legume export to overseas

Trend of area and production of major cereals

and food legumes
• Rice, maize and wheat are major cereals and are cultivated in
1559436 ha, 834285 ha, 664589 ha with production 4455722 mt,
1590097 mt, and 1387191 mt, respectively
• Food legumes are cultivated in 316010 ha with production 265360
mt and productivity 840 kg/ha

1000

800

600

400

200

0
1994/95 1995/96 1996/97 1997/98 1998/99 1999/00 2000/01 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04

Area Production Productivity

Poster presented in 4th IFLRC, held on 18-22 october, 2005,New Delhi,
India
• Over the past one decade(1993/94-2003-04) the area under pulses
cultivation has been increased by 2.74%, while production increased
by 31.32% and the productivity gained by 28.24% over the same
period.
• In winter legumes Lentil accounts 60%, chickpea covered 3% and
grass pea covered 2% of the total area and production in the
country.
• In summer legumes black gram accounts 10% , while pigeon pea
and soybean each covered 7% and horse gram covered 2% of area
and production of total legumes in the country.
• Other important grain legumes include cowpea, broad bean, rice
bean, mung bean and phaseolus bean etc those accounts for 9%
area and production.
• Terai contributes 76%, hill 20% and mountain 4% of the total
legumes area in Nepal, (MOAC, 2004).

Soy
Hgram 7%
Others M ountain
2% Hills
9% 4%
20%
Grpea
2%

Bgram Lentil
10% 60%
Terai
Ppea Cpea 76%
7% 3%

Area and production % of legumes Distribution of legumes area

• Distribution of the legumes under development region revealed that
highest area (34%) and production (37%) remained in central
development region followed by mid western (21 & 21%), eastern
(19 & 19%), western (15 & 13%) and far western (11 & 10%) in
area and production respectively
Legumes area and production pattern according to developmental regions of Nepal
 Area Production

Present status of production and demand of

cereals and legumes
During 2001/02 as compare to 2000/01 productions of cereals and legumes has
increased by 1.42 and 2.94 % while demand increases in that period by 1.81 % and
5.24% respectively.

5000
4500
4000
3500
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
1992-93 1993-94 1994-95 1995-96 1996-97 1997-98 1998-99 1999-00 2000-01 2001-02

Cereals Production Cereals Demand Pulses Production Pulses Demand

Production and demands situation of cereals and legumes in Nepal (scale: Cereals production and
demand 000' mt and legumes production and demand 00' mt)

• With the rise in income levels and change in consumption pattern,

the domestic demand of food legumes would have risen up to 329 &
450 thousand metric tons by the year 2010 and 2020 respectively.
Based on the demands projection of food legumes in Nepal, needs
to increase the area by 0.4%, production by 4.7% and productivity
by 4.2% annually.

Export and Import of pulses

• Nepal has exported pulses to India and overseas worth of 8.21 and 4.20
million US $, respectively during 2003/04, while at the same period Nepal
has imported pulses of 8.55 and 3.84 millions US $ from India and
overseas respectively. Thus the export import differences in terms of
monitory value is 0.03 million dollars (i.e. 2.1 million Rs).
• Lentil is the single commodity exported to overseas.
 Legumes based cropping system
Cropping system in terai and inner terai
a. Lowland

Rice/Lentil-Fallow
Rice/Lentil + Mustard
Rice /Lentil-Maize
Rice /Lathyrus-Maize
Rice-Rice-Chickpea
Rice-Rice-Lentil or Lathyrus + Linseed
Rice-Wheat or Mustard-Mungbean
Rice + Pigeonpea(On bunds)-fallow

b.Upland
Maize-Lentil + Mustard
Maize-Chickpea + Mustard
Maize-Chickpea + Barley or Wheat
Maize + cowpeas- Mustard or Wheat
Maize + Soybean- Mustard or Wheat
Pigeonpea – Fallow
Maize + Pigeonpea-Fallow

Cropping system in the hills and valleys

a) Lowland
Rice +Soy bean (on bunds)-Wheat
Rice +Black gram (on bunds)-Wheat or Barley
Rice +Rice bean (on bunds)-Wheat
b) Upland
Maize+Soybean-Mustard or Wheat
Maize +Cowpea-Mustard or Wheat
Maize +Beans-Mustard or Barley
Maize/Blackgram-Mustard or Wheat
Soybean bund planting Soybean mixed cropping in maize field

Prospective of legumes in Nepalese Agriculture

• Cereal-legumes multiple cropping patterns is adopting traditionally,
is a distinguished feature of Neplease agriculture especially in
bariland farming. There is huge area to extend this practice to
enhance sustainable production.
• Integration of legumes in the existing cropping system has the only
way to increase the cropping intensity and restore the soil fertility.
• About o.5 million hectare such fallow areas can be occupied by the
inclusion of short duration crops like mungbean, cowpea that helps
to recover the soil fertility, ensure the better income for farmers'
livelihood & long run soil sustainability.
• The quantum jump in production is only possible when the crops
intensification and diversification increased tremendously in the
system
• His Majesty Govt. of Nepal has being implemented crop
diversification projects through the department of agriculture in mid
and far western part of Nepal so as to break the cereal
monocropping.

Present situation of legumes production, research and

development in Nepal

• Research efforts in the past have resulted in the recommendation of

28 varieties of grain legumes: 8 in lentil, 6 in chickpea, 7 in
soybean, 3 in cowpea and 2 in pigeonpea and one each in
mungbean and black gram. Along with the varieties, suitable
package of practices for the cultivation of these crops have been
recommended.
 • There is big gap among research results (3 t/ha ), yield obtained at
the farmers’ field under well managed condition(1.5 t/ha,and
national productivity 0.84mt/ha.and that is due to of the poor-
adoption of recommended varieties , technologies and number of
biotic, abiotic ,socioeconomic, and technological constraints.

• Research efforts in recent years have been focused on participatory

evaluation and generation of location specific varieties/technologies
through participatory approach.

Lentil
• Leading pulse crop of Nepal. Its cropped area is increased from
119490 ha to 187380 ha (1990/91 to 2003/04). The productivity
has also increased from 611 kg/ha to 847 kg/ha during that period.
• The importance of lentil in Nepal is also increasing due to export
market to Bangladesh and other foreign countries and also due to
the ban on the trade of grasspea since 1991/92 in Nepal (Yadav et.
al. 1998).
• Lentil crop is usually grown as a relay crop or sequential crop in rice
based cropping pattern. It is also grown as an inter-crop and mixed
crop with wheat or mustard.
• Eight varieties have been recommended for general cultivation.
NGLRP is paying more attention to introduce breeding materials for
the development of high yielding, medium and bold seeded
cultivars. Crossing program is initiated to achieve this objective.
Chickpea
• Fifth important legume in terms of both area (9560 ha) and
production (8114 Mt). Its national average yield is 849 kg/ha.
Chickpea is one of the potential crops that could be successfully
grown in rice fallow in Nepal with yield levels of 1.5-2 t/ha
• Main problems of chickpea growing are wilt complex, Botrytis gray
mould and pod borer infestation.
• The cross lines ICCX 840508-36 (Dhanush x K 850) is very
promising and proceeds for the variety releasing by the name of
Tara

Grasspea
• Third winter crops in area and production .It occupies 2% area and
production of total pulses.
• It is mainly used as human food as well as cattle feed though its
trade is banned by the government due to the presence of
 presumed neurotoxin ODAP [3-(N-Oxalyl)-L-2, 3-di amino propionic
acid] that causes neurological disorder called lathyrism
Pigeonpea
• It is one of the important summer legume crops of Nepal. Its area
is 22459 ha and production is 19468 mt in Nepal.
• It is being grown as sole and/ or mixed crop with maize and sesame
in upland farming condition. In the central and eastern zone,
planting on rice field bund is the most common practice.
• Major biotic constraints are wilt and sterility mosaic disease (SMD)
and pod borer and pod fly insects.
• The genotypes Pusa-9, Lalbandi Local, Bahar and Pusa-14 have
been identified for post rainy pigeon pea after maize or early rice
• The genotype ICP7035 is one of the promising lines that is resistant
to wilt and sterility mosaic diseases and can grow successfully both
in summer and Rabi seasons for grains as well vegetables
Black gram
• It has 2nd position in area (32152 ha) and production (25501) with
the productivity (793 kg /ha) and is the major pulse of hilly peoples
of Nepal.
• Only one variety, Kalu has been released and is out dated variety.
There is an urgent need to identify and release suitable high
yielding varieties of black gram. At present, selection and testing
from local landraces is conducting at Rampur.

Mungbean
• Grown mainly in a rice-wheat-mungbean cropping pattern in
irrigated or partially irrigated area of terai, inner terai and foothill of
the valley.
• Pusa Baisakhi is the only recommended variety for general cultivation
in irrigated areas of terai.
• In collaboration AVRDC and FORWARD, NGLRP has identified the
genotypes NM-94 and VC6372 (45-8-1) resistant/ tolerant to MYMV,
more or less synchronous maturity with higher yield levels than
Pusa Baisakhi and proposed to the National seed board for release.

Cowpea
• It is one of the important summer grain legumes of Nepal and is
grown in marginal land with little or no inputs .It is being grown
from Terai to mid hills for various purposes such as vegetable,
dal and green manuring.
 • It is estimated that it occupies 8000 ha and produces 5660 Mt
with the productivity of 700 kg/ha. The area and its production
are increasing trend
• Cowpea is planted as sole crop as well as inter/ mixed crop with
maize.
• Three varieties Aakash, Prakash and Surya were released for
commercial cultivation.

Groundnut
• The most important income generating summer oil seed legume
crops of Nepal. It is used both for oil and confectionary
purposes.
• Area under groundnut is estimated to be 15000 ha and the trend
is increasing due to the development of high yielding varieties,
adoption of improved technologies and spreading it's cultivation
in new areas of western hills.
• Six groundnut varieties namely B-4, Janak, Jyoti, Jayanti,
Rajarshi and Baidehi were officially released for commercial
cultivation in Nepal. Varieties Rajarshi and Baidehi have been
recently released ( in 2005 July) for cultivation.
• National oil seed research program(NORP) and ICRISAT is jointly
working for identifying the suitable genotypes for spring planting
and explore the potential of inter or mixed cropping with cereals
especially with maize.
Table: 1 List of legumes varieties released so far in Nepal.
SN Varieties Year of Origin Yield Days to Recommendation
Release Potential maturity Domain
(mt/ha)
LENTIL
1 Sital 2004 ICARDA 1.18 133 Terai & mid hills
2 Khajura 1999 Nepal 2.1 134 Terai of mid and far
Masuro-2 western
developmental region
3 Khajura 1999 Nepal 1.5 128 Terai of mid and far
Masuro-1 western
developmental region
4 Shikhar 1990 PAK 3.5 143 Terai, Inner terai, mid
hills
5 Simal 1990 India 4.1 143 Terai, Inner terai, mid
hills
6 Sisir 1979 India 2.0 150 Terai, Inner terai, mid
hills
7 Simrik 1979 India 1.5 143 Terai, mid-hills
8 Sindur 1979 Nepal 1.5 148 Terai, mid-hills
Chickpea
1 Kalika 1990 India 1.4 152 Terai, Inner terai
2 Koseli 1990 India 1.6 154 Terai, western & Inner
terai
3 Sita 1987 India 1.5 140 Terai
4 Radha 1987 India 1.6 142 Terai
5 Trishul 1979 Nepal 1.7 144 Terai
6 Dhanush 1979 Nepal 1.8 144 Terai
Soybean
1 Lumle-1 1996 Nepal 1.7 142 Mid Hill (400-1600 m)
2 Cobb 1990 USA 2.5 123 Terai, Inner terai
3 Seti 1990 Taiwan 1.2 150 Mid Hill, Valley
4 Ransom 1987 USA 1.0 145 Mid Hill, Valley
5 Hill 1978 USA 1.7 166 Hill
6 Hardee 1978 USA 2.4 124 Terai, Inner Terai
7 Tarkari bhatmas Valley ,Mid hills
PIGEONPEA
1 Bageshwari 1992 Nepal 2.0 261 Terai, inner terai
(Dhanusha, Sarlahi
CDR) & Banke of mid
western region
2 Rampur Arahar- 1992 India 1.5 197 Terai, inner terai (CDR
1 Makwanpur, Sarlahi)
Blackgram
1. Kalu 1989 India 1.2 79 Mid hills, valley
Cowpea
1 Surya 2004 Nigeria 1.4 65-96 Terai, inner terai
2 Prakash 1990 Nigeria 0.8 60 Terai, inner terai
3 Aakash 1990 Nigeria 1.0 73 Terai, inner terai
Mungbean
1. Pusa Baisakhi 1975 India 1.5 60 Terai

Constraints to production

A. Biotic
• Yellow mosaic virus (YMV) in soybean, mungbean, blackgram, cowpea,
phaseolus bean
• Pod borer in chickpea, pigeonpea, soybean
• Powdery mildew in mungbean, blackgram, pigeonpea, lathyrus
• ODAP in Lathyrus
• Leaf spot in soybean, mungbean
• Wilt / root rot in lentil, chickpea and pigeonpea
• Pod blight in soybean, cowpea
• Hairy-caterpillars in soybean, mungbean, blackgram
• BGM in lentil, chickpea
• Stemphyllum blight in lentil

B. Abiotic constraint
• Crops grown in poor marginal lands.
• Non-availability of quality seeds and inputs in time, place and quantity as
needed.
• Lack of awareness among farmers in improved technology in grain
legumes.
Many species of grain legumes.

C. Socio-economic constraints
• Grain legumes receive secondary priority.
• Yield instability over years risky.
• High losses in storage.
• Production technologies for all the legumes have not still fully developed.
 Research Strategy for Pulse Improvement

National Grain Legumes Research Program (NGLRP) under Nepal

Agricultural Research Council (NARC) has mandate to generate suitable
technologies for increasing the production and productivity of major
legumes crops grown in different agro-ecological zones of the country. To
accomplish such mandate NGLRP has kept following short term and long
term research strategies.

Immediate/short term
• Obtained segregating materials from IARCs, and evaluate, select and
recommend lentil, chickpea, pigeonpea, cowpea and mungbean
varieties.
• Collect, evaluate and select suitable varieties from local materials.
• Identify sources of resistance for major diseases & pests of major
grain legume crops.
• Verify the on-station proven technology in farmer’s field through on-
farm trials and recommend it.

Long term
• Initiate breeding for resistance to major biotic constraints of important
grain legumes.
• Collaborate with IARCs for collaborative breeding.
• Research on integrated pest and disease management for major insect
pests and diseases
• Research on integrated nutrient management system through inclusion
of legumes in the cropping pattern.
• Fine tuning the agronomic management practices for major food
legumes and production systems.
• Research on post- harvest, handling, drying, threshing, storage and
utilization of legume products.
• Initiate research on horse gram, field pea, phaseolus bean and rice
bean.
• Develop appropriate low cost technology for higher yield.
• Seed production of different grain legumes.
• Collaborative research works on grain legumes with other research
organizations in Nepal.
• Determine the economic/action threshold levels for sustainable soil
management.
Conclusions
Food legumes plays crucial role in attaining the food & nutritional
security and alleviating poverty by raising farm income. It also
 improves the soil health, which ultimately secure the sustainable
agriculture. Food legumes occupy 9% of the total cultivated lands of
Nepal (MOAC, 2004). Still there are many challenges both biotic and
abiotic constraints to increase production of pulses. Integration of
legumes in the existing cropping system have the only way to increase
the cropping intensity and restore the soil fertility. Crop intensification
and diversification with legumes either as relay cropping in rice/
maize, intercropping or after cereal crops is identified as one of the
strategy and opportunities to maximize the use of land and ensure the
land productivity. His Majesty Govt. of Nepal has being implemented
crop diversification projects through the department of agriculture in
mid and far western part of Nepal so as to break the cereal
monocropping and conserve the bio-diversity and maximize food
availability. The quantum jump in export is only possible when the
crops intensification and diversification increased tremendously in the
system.

Acknowledgements

We would like to express our gratitude to Dr.M.C. Khadakbal. Secretary,

4th International Food legumes conference to give opportunities to
participate and present this paper. Our gratitude is also to Mr. D.S. Pathik,
Executive Director, Dr. S.L. Maskey, Director, Crops and Horticulture
Research, NARC for providing the valuable suggestion and excellent
support. Authors are grateful to CLIMA, Australia, ICARDA, Syria and
ICRISAT,India for providing technical, financial support and breeding
materials for successful implementation of this program.

References

• MOAC, 2004. Statistical information on Nepalese Agriculture

2003/04.HMG, Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operative. Business
promotion and agriculture statistics division, Kathmandu, Nepal.

• NGLRP, 2002. Annual report of NGLRP, F.Y .2001/02.

• Yadav, NK. 2003. Status of Grain Legumes Research and Production

in Nepal Pp.102-114 Role of Legumes in Crop Diversification and
Poverty Reduction in Asia. Proceedings of the joint CLAN steering
Committee Meeting 10-12 November 2003 ICRISAT-Patancheru.
(Edited by CLL Gowda and S Pande).