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Agriculture is the primary occupation for the majority of Nepalese populace for their livelihood; the case is especially true for rural areas of Nepal. While both male and female engage in diverse agricultural activities, gender-specific roles in agricultural decision-making are significant. A survey study was conducted in three wards of Kanchanpur district (Majhgau-14, Bhuda-02, and Baghphata-19) to examine the gender-specific labor input in vegetable production activities. Eighty households were chosen by random sampling and a scheduled interview was carried out. Most of the activities such as fence construction, transplanting, fertilizer use, harvesting, cleaning, and grading were found typically female's responsibility. However, males were found dominantly involved in land preparation. Also, males were found to have relatively more access to, and control over farm resources and played dominant role in decision making than women. The findings of this study revealed that there are gender-specific domains in rural farming system. Therefore, there is a need to develop gender friendly technology and policy while formulating specific project planning and development efforts. SAARC J. Agri., 16(2): 109-118 (2018)

Large Cardamom is a high value spice crop having substantial export potential. The study was conducted on Feb-May, 2019 in Arun rural municipality, Bhojpur municipality and Sadananda municipality with an objective to analyze existing value chain of Large Cardamom in Bhojpur district of Nepal.  In total, 150 Large Cardamom growers were selected using purposive sampling technique. In addition to that, 17 traders from the Bhojpur, Khadbari and Birtamod were also selected for the study. Findings showed that farmers were interested in Large Cardamom industry due to good return and high profit margin per unit of commodity. The benefit-cost ratio was found higher in Arun village municipality (1.735), followed by Sadananda municipality (1.467) and Bhojpur municipality (1.263). Increasing disease and pest attack and low seasonal price are the major problem in production and marketing of Large Cardamom respectively. Harvested capsules of Large Cardamom were dried using traditional drier (bhatti) that make the dried capsules prone to quality degradation. Value addition practices such as grading, tail cutting were found poor in farmer level. Producer’s share and marketing efficiency were found highest when farmers sell their product directly to exporter and lowest in domestic market channel. Demand and supply of Large Cardamom in Indian market was most determining factor for price fixation of Nepalese Large Cardamom. Thus from the study it is recommended to improve production process through appropriate mechanization, along with possible efforts in identification of potential international markets and possible ways for direct export to third countries which could help farmers to receive higher price.

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Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) is one of the newly introduced insect pest of tomato in Nepal, which was first detected by Entomology Division, Nepal Agricultural Research Council from a commercial tomato grower of Balaju, Kathmandu on 16th May 2016. The pest occurs all-round the year within the temperature range of 20-27° C, and therefore, the environment of mid hills and plains of Nepal is suitable for sustaining the pest except during the winter season. T. absoluta pest mainly attacks Solanaceous crops, especially evident in tomato, however, it is also found in non-solanaceous crops. Larva of the pest is devastating causing damage in fruit, leaves and stem, and reducing tomato production by 80-100% in open field as well as in plastic house, if no control measures are carried out. Chemicals, like Spinosad, Chlorantraniliprole and Novaluron are recommended in Nepal for controlling this pest, but studies have revealed the inefficacy of chemical control measures due to wide host range, faster reproducing ability and development of pesticide resistance. Therefore, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) with mass trapping of the pest using pheromone trap, biological control by predator, parasitoid, entomopathogenic microbes, including cultural practices are imperative for the effective control of this pest.