Assessment of Rice Status in Terai Madhesh Cluster (TMC) of Nepal

Abstract

This study was carried out in the 21 districts of Terai Madhesh Cluster (TMC) from Ilam in East to Kanchanpur in West by adopting the data from Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Singhadurbar, Kathmandu from 2000/01 to 2019/20. The main objective of this study is to review the status of rice at Terai Madhesh Cluster (TMC) of Nepal through trend analysis and to assess the Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis and intervention strategy development. The growth rate in the area of rice was found in ‘Decreasing Trend’ while the growth rate of production of rice was found in ‘Increasing Trend’ within TMC. The average annual growth rate in the yield of rice in both TMC and National level was found in increasing trend but the average annual growth of rice yield in TMC was found comparatively higher than national level in past 2 decades which clearly indicates TMC as rice basket of Nepal. The SWOT analysis of rice sub-sector had found the need of strengthening the inputs, production, marketing, and processing and value addition strategies of rice. Hence, the government of Nepal should have to either formulate new or amend existing Land Use Policy to stop the decreasing trend in the growth rate of area of rice. Similarly, inputs, production, marketing, and processing and value addition strategies of rice should be further strengthened in order to maintain food security in country with overall prosperity.