Despite the trend, farmers tend to favour hybrid varieties that are more productive and profitable in good conditions
Kathmandu — At his shop in Nepal's capital, Tilak Dhakal sells traditional crops that have vanished from many of the country's markets: sorghum, millet, buckwheat flour and mustard, among others.
Launched four years ago, the project not only procures and sells such produce but provides technical support to farmers to grow traditional crops — with the support of local government — and raises awareness among consumers and agriculturalists. Local and traditional crop varieties are more resilient to changing environmental conditions as they have developed over time through natural selection and adaptationKathmandu resident Tara Ghimire said she buys buckwheat and millet flour from Dhakal's shop — and was happy to pay the premium — because she believed local crops were better for her.
“Local and traditional crop varieties are more resilient to changing environmental conditions as they have developed over time through natural selection and adaptation,” said Sabnam Shivakoti, joint secretary at the agriculture ministry. About 125km away — in Arghakhanchi district — farmer Nirmala Pandey explained how she used to grow local varieties of crops such as corn, cucumber and okra at home until 15 years ago.“The seeds of all crops can be bought in the store and so we started planting hybrid crops of which the seeds come from outside Nepal,” Pandey added.
“If we depend on imported seeds, we may be in a crisis in the future,” he said. “For example, we are facing a crisis of chemical fertiliser due to the war between Russia and Ukraine.”
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