Assessment of Rice Seed Production and Seed Replacement Rate (SSR) Status in Geruwa and Rajapur, Bardiya

Seed is a vital input for agriculture production and is the major limiting factor to productivity. To assess the production status and Seed Replacement Rate (SRR) this study was carried out in two municipalities viz., Geruwa and Rajapur of Bardiya district which were purposively selected. The study used randomly selected 50 rice seed producers and 50 grain producers (25 from each municipality). The MS-Excel and STATA (Version 15.0) software were used for data analysis. The study investigates the local production and demand for rice seed in two municipalities of Bardiya, aiming to identify rice seed varieties, assess production and demand, determine seed replacement rates (SRR), and understand challenges faced by rice seed producers. The finding revealed that the average rice seed production is 44.64 quintals, and Rajapur had higher production than Geruwa. Accordingly, the average demand for rice seed among farmers is 34.4 kg, indicating that local production sufficiently meets the area's demand. The area has a considerably high SRR compared to the national average because of favorable agricultural infrastructure concerning improved irrigation facilities; more assured availability and utilization of better varieties of seeds; effective agricultural extension services; more favorable climatic conditions; and better access to agricultural equipment. From study findings, Makwanpur is the dominant rice variety (26%) used for seed production in the study area. However, seed production has remained challenging, with the respondents pointing out that insect pests, diseases, and the timely unavailability of fertilizers were some of the major setbacks. This research provides valuable information on the local rice seed production dynamics and hence contributes to strategies for enhancing agricultural productivity, besides addressing the challenges faced by the seed producers. Keywords: Rice seed production, Seed Replacement Rate (SRR), agricultural productivity.