Status of Legume Crops Production in Nepal

Present condition of production, problems and future possibilities of grain legumes in Nepal .

Introduction 

Grain legumes are the most important crops in condition of Nepal, it ranks fourth in terms of cultivation. Grain legumes play the important role in Nepalese agriculture contributing towards food and nutritional security, nitrogen economy, crop intensification, diversification and sustainable farming system. Lentil is the major grain legumes and accounts for 62% of area and 65% production of total grain legumes in Nepal and has emerged as an important export commodity. Grain Legumes Research Program (GLRP) of Nepal in collaboration with CGIAR works for genetic improvement of lentil, chickpea, pigeon pea, soya bean, mug bean, black gram and cowpea. This has led to substantial increasing grain legumes production, mainly because of 47% area increase during the last two and half decades. The current estimates for area, production and productivity of grain legumes in Nepal are 339861 ha, 386570 metric tons and 956kg ha-1, respectively. 

Table showing area, production and productivity of grain legumes in Nepal (2015) 

Crops	Area(ha)	Production(mt)	Productivity(t/ha)
Lentil	205939	253041	1.2287
Chickpea	9883	10914	1.1043
Pigeon pea	17006	16415	0.9652
Black  gram	23312	19402	0.8323
Lathyrus	23312	19402	0.8323
Horse gram	6319	5662	0.8960
Soya bean	23446	28917	1.2332
Others	30644	32817	1.0709
Total	339861	386570	1.1374

Why grain legumes are given secondary importance?? 

In terms of production volume, the cereals are the most important as they furnish the carbohydrates that constitute the major portion of human and animal diets, on the other hand the legumes do not constitute major portion of the human diets as well as animals. Production of grain legumes is not also more sufficient so that it can be exported. Grain legumes are generally used for their chemicals, ethnic value, timber, cooking fuel, forage crops, pasture and feed of animals so it has given secondary importance.  

Total 35 varieties of grain legumes have been released for general cultivation. In winter food legumes ten lentil and eight chickpea varieties have been recommended. Lentil varieties released are from selection of local landraces (Sindur), selection of South Asian (Simrik ,Sisir, Simal, Khajura Masuro-1) or from ICARDA(Sikhar, khajura Masuro-2).Recently released varieties are Sagun and MahesworBharati are fromcrosses made using lentils from South and West Asia. In chickpea seven varieties released and one Kabuli(Koseli).Among summer legumes eight varieties of soybean, two varieties of pigeon pea, three varieties of each mung bean and cowpea. 

Constraints of grain legumes production in Nepal 

• Diseases 
• Weeds 
• Biotic stresses 
• Insect and pests 
• Low priority in National policy 

• Global warming, climate change 
• Lack of proper knowledge  
• Lack of mechanization  
• Unavailability of quality seed/ lack of organized seed 
• Lack of proper marketing facility 

How can we increase grain legume production?? 

• Decreasing the effect of diseases 

• Protection from insect, pest and other harmful organisms 
• Use of proper weedicides / availability of weedicides should be easy 
• Provide information about the grain legume production  
• Information about new developed technology to the farmers 
• Farmers should be financially supported 

• Quality seeds should be made available 
• Distinct market 
• Releasing well fertilizer responding Verities 
• 1^st priority should be given to grain legume production  

Future aspects or possibilities of grain legumes in Nepal 

• Improved methodologies and tools for genetic improvement 
• IPM options for control of insect, pest and diseases 
• Varietal development using local varieties 
• Development of high yielding cultivars 

• Focus on exportable quantities 
• Plan for adequate quality seed production 
• Development of suitable technologies for stress environments 
• Weed management 
• Conservation agriculture. 

Conclusion 

Grain legume production in Nepal is fluctuation year by year. Nepal has a great potential to produce different grain legumes species due to the diverse agro ecological condition, the rice-based cropping system helps in increase area, production and productivity of grain legumes. Developing technologies help to overcome the constraints of production and production seepage.