This study was conducted to estimate the cost of production and net return of strawberry in Nuwakot district of Nepal. A descriptive analysis was conducted with the help of data collected from 100 farmers engaged in strawberry cultivation through a pre-tested and well-structured questionnaire. An economic analysis was conducted to examine the factors affecting the production of strawberries. The results purported that the net return from strawberry cultivation was NRs 159870 and NRs 175180 in Kakani and Okharpauwa, respectively. The difference was mainly due to the distance of the individual villages from the market. Growing strawberries is a profitable enterprise as returns are greater than the cost incurred. The average benefit cost ratio (BCR) of two villages was calculated to be 2.41. The factors affecting productivity and net return were analysed through the value chain, where it was found that though middle men were involved, farmers were still profiting well. A swot analysis was performed, which concluded that the distance between the farm and the market was a major drawback. Overall, climate, farming experience, landholding, education, and market channel all aided strawberry production. Policies should be formulated that benefit farmers. Lastly, a market should be established near the production area to minimize transportation charges and post-harvest losses.

The potato tuber moth (PTM; caused by Phthorimaea operculella) is one of the most serious insect pests that causes damage to crop production and storage of potatoes. It causes damage to the potato, while larvae of P. operculella feed on and grow in the leaves and tubers of potatoes, resulting in direct product losses. The larvae construct tunnels through tubers and mine leaves, stems, and petioles, resulting in uneven galleries. Foliar damage to the potato crop does not normally result in major output losses, although contaminated tubers may have lower marketability and storage losses of up to 100%. Light watering every 4 days and mulching with neem leaves during the last 4 weeks before the harvest was found to be a successful treatment. Spraying a thin layer of testing natural oils also acts as a defensive layer, which causes confusion or disturbance to the searching neonate larvae. The pest is tough to eradicate, so producers rely heavily on insecticides and biological approaches. Potato tuberworm damage was reduced by rotating esfenvalerate and indoxacarb treatments before and after vine kill. At 5 g/kg potato tuber in farmer rustic storage, Acorus calamus dust exhibited great efficiency in preventing PTM tuber damage. In different regions of the world, parasitoids such as Copidosoma spp. and Apanteles spp. are significant in PTM management. Pheromone traps are used for pest population monitoring as well as pest management in the field and during storage.

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The demand of banana fruit is ever increasing and Nepal's Terai region has immense potential for this high value crop. Government has kept it at top most priority where it can be grown like Chitwan district. This study examined the banana production, problems of banana production and about the livelihood improvement of banana farmers in Chitwan district, Province No.3 of Nepal during the year of 2022. Tharu were the dominant ethnic group of these villages. The numbers of respondents selected for this study belong between 22-59 years old. The major occupation of these respondents was farming 91.4 percent and 8 percent were in other services. A survey was conducted from a representative sample size of 60 banana growers. The sample was selected by using simple random sampling technique. Banana producers of Chitwan district are taking good benefit from the banana fruit as income was higher than the cost. It was found that from 1 bigha farmers can have income of Rs 650000 with the cost of Rs 345000. It was found that among different sources of credit, people were mostly reliant on their own fund. People's participation in various social groups such as savings and credit group, farmers group, water user group, cooperatives and other social groups have increased over the time. To enhance more banana production quantity and quality major problems of farmers should be dealt with, which would help to increase their earning resulting in higher living standard day by day and that way we can encourage more production. Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 10(2): 93-98.

In view of suitable climatic condition in mid hill of Nepal, sweet orange is emerging as a new enterprise for farmers, for which the government of Nepal has also given priority to this crop. In the light of these facts, a case study was conducted in Pyuthan municipality of Pyuthan district to identify the problems related to sweet orange in Pyuthan municipality. All of the farmers had their own land for Sweet orange production. Majority of the respondents (80%) had the annual income below NRs. 20000. Farmers were able to increase their higher education, household expenses, health and savings from Sweet orange production. Transportation, irrigation, citrus greening disorder and green stinky bug were major problem in Sweet orange production in study area. Study suggested that concerned stakeholders should focus their program on quality seedling production, input use, and human resource management, and scientific orchard management, capacity development of farmers, insect pest management, scientific value chain management and post-harvest loss reduction for overall development of sweet orange industry in Pyuthan district. Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 10(2): 134-139.