Determining Factors and Possible Challenges to the Adoption of Local Kalanamak Rice in Kapilvastu District, Nepal

Local rice landraces are vital for preserving agricultural biodiversity, ensuring food and nutrition security, and serving as valuable genetic resources for breeding. However, their cultivation is declining significantly due to various socio-economic, biotic, abiotic, and productivity-related challenges. To promote the cultivation of local rice varieties, it is essential to understand the key factors influencing farmers’ adoption decisions. Identifying the major challenges faced by local rice producers is critical for formulating effective strategies and interventions to support its cultivation. In this context, a study was conducted in the Kapilvastu district of Nepal in 2023, employing purposive sampling to survey 169 farmers—70 cultivating local Kalanamak rice and 99 cultivating improved rice varieties. Among six socioeconomic and production parameters studied, the size of the household head, years of schooling, and total rice productivity significantly affected the adoption of rice varieties. Size of household (β=1.053, p<0.05, and OR=2.866) and years of schooling of household head (β=0.404, p<0.05, OR =1.498) showed a significant positive effect on rice adoption. The odds ratio (OR) revealed that the likelihood of adopting Kalanamak rice increases with the increase in the size of the household and the number of years of schooling of the household head. On the contrary, total productivity (β= -10.216, p< 0.01, OR = 0.001) significantly affected the adaptation of rice varieties. The extremely low value of OR revealed that the likelihood of adoption of Kalanamak rice decreases due to low productivity. Problem analysis showed that disease and pest infestation, irrigation, and high cost of seed, fertilizer, and farm machinery were highly persistent and impactful problems faced by Kalanamak rice-adopting farmers. These findings underscore the urgent need for policy interventions that prioritize larger households and provide training facilities for low-educated farmers. Developing highly productive and disease-resistant Kalanamak cultivars and price subsidization in fertilizer, seed, and farm machinery could significantly promote the sustainable conservation of Kalanamak rice.