Five vegetable type cowpea varieties were evaluated in farmer's field with farmers participationat Chambas, Tanahu (450 masl) in two consecutive years 2003 and 2004 rainy season to identifysuitable vegetable type cowpea varieties for commercial production in the river basin and lowhill areas of western region. The experiment was arranged in randomized complete block design(RCBD) with 5 replications, farmer as replication. Prakash variety used as the check was earliestin flowering and days to first harvest from sowing with an average of 37 and 45 daysrespectively. Pod diameter and pod length among the varieties was significantly different. Thebiggest sized and longest pods were produced by IT 86F-2062-5 (Green) with an average of0.990 cm in diameter and 25.60 cm in length. The highest green pod yield (4.971 t/ha) wasproduced by IT 86F-2062-5 (Green). Despite the earliness in flowering, fruiting and harvesting,Prakash produced the smallest (0.668 cm) and shortest (16.21 cm) pods and ultimately thelowest yield (2.443 t/ha). IT 86F-2062-5 (Green) produced the biggest size (0.990 cm diameter)and longest (24.60 cm) green pods as compared to other varieties IT 86D-792, IT 86F-2062-5(White), IT 86D-798 and Prakash with white color, small size and fibrous pods. The results ofthe experiment and farmers preferences revealed that the variety IT 86F-2062-5 (Green) couldbe recommended for commercial production in the river basin and low hill areas of westernregion.Key words: Cowpea; green pods; river basin; variety; vegetableDOI: 10.3126/narj.v7i0.1861Nepal Agriculture Research Journal Vol.7 2006 pp.16-20

Tissue culture is the best option to produce disease free seedling of the fruit crop rapidly. Micro-propagation and use of the in-vitro grafting (micro-grafting) is very helpful for production of virus free planting materials in mandarin. Different levels of the in-vitro hormone affect the success of callusing, shooting and plant regeneration in mandarin. Shoot bud, flower bud and in-vitro seedling epicotyl was used as explants to study the hormonal effect on mandarin micro-propagation. Similarly, 10 levels of BAP and IAA combination on MS media for mandarin tissue culture were used. Observation was done for 100 test tubes per treatment combination after 4, 8 and 12 weeks of culture. Data was arc sine transformed for analysis. Shooting from explants was significantly higher (71.72%) on medium level of the BAP (0.5 mg/L) and IAA (0.2 mg/L) using in-vitro seedling stem as explant, however, it was 27.91% for stem bud as explant. Stem bud showed higher level of callusing (6.15%, p<0.001) in mandarin orange. However, flower bud didn't develop shoot in mandarin tissue culture. Increment of the in-vitro regeneration of the shooting and callusing was observed by the increment of the in-vitro incubation duration in mandarin orange tissue culture.

Ginger is most important cash crop of the hilly region of Nepal. However, availability of disease free planting material (rhizome) is the major problem faced by Nepalese farmers. Tissue culture is the only option to produce disease free rhizome of ginger. Suitable culture media combination is most important for the production of planting material in ginger through tissue culture. Therefore, effect of different level of sucrose and growth regulators on micro-propagation of ginger was studied using local collection 'Kaski Local'. Early stage bud was used as explant. MS basal media with different level of sucrose and growth regulators was used as tissue culture media. 30 g/L sucrose,

A field experiment was conducted at Deurali, Palpa (1200 m asl) during 2004 rainy season to identify the appropriate plant population of maize for increased productivity of maize ginger, net economic return and land use efficiency due to integration of the above crops based cropping system in the hills. Maize was planted as double planting (double plants in a hill with 100x100 cm spacing), single planting (single plant in a hill with 100 x 50 cm spacing), normal planting (75 x 25 cm spacing) and ginger was cropped in between the maize rows at 30 x 30 cm spacing sole maize and sole ginger. The results of the experiment showed that the highest maize and ginger yield were obtained from sole planting system with an average of 6.15 and 41.13t/ha maize ginger and fresh ginger rhizomes respectively. the lowest net return of Rs 16,934/ha was obtained from sole maize planting. Among the intercropping systems. Maize double planting and ginger integration system produced significantly high net income of Rs. 535,426/ha with acceptable land equivalent ration (LER) (1.40). However, the highest net return of Rs 604,034/ ha was obtained from ginger as sole planting. Since maize is the staple food crop in the hill and it could not be ignored in the cropping system, maize double planting with ginger integration was found beneficial with significant high net profit compared to sole maize while ginger gave 12.81% more net profit compared to intercropping. the result of the experiment revealed that double planting of maize with ginger integration system would be profitable instead of sole maize but cultivation of ginger as sole crop has been found much profitable than intercropping in the mid-hills. In the hilly regions farmers generally grow maize and ginger separately. The concept of intercropping maize + ginger in a field enhances crop productivity per unit area. This information which is documented in the maize + ginger in a field enhances crop productivity per unit area. This information which is documented in the different social studies in western hills. <i>Nepal Journal of Science and Technology</i> Vol. 7, 2006

Abstract. The study was conducted to analyze growth rates and financial profitability of supply chain actors of Large Cardamom based on a sample survey of randomly selected 90 farmers, 10 input suppliers, and 15 traders. Secondary data of area and production were obtained from Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development whereas price information was acquired from the Federation of Large Cardamom Entreprenuers of Nepal. The area, production and productivity of Large Cardamom in Ilam district was found in decreasing trend. Market data analysis showed that the price was drastically fluctuating but the compound annual growth rate was significantly increasing by 4.48%. Financial analysis indicated that the enterprise with a project life of 10 years was viable and highly profitable with benefit cost ratio of 3.14, payback period 4.09 years, internal rate of return 81.4%, and net present value of NPR 3.58 million per hectare. Four major supply chain actors were involved. The profit margin was found the highest for the producers (45.68%) followed by regional level traders (28.42%), district level traders (16.36%) and least for the village level traders (9.54%). Traditional driers were still used for curing the capsules with a compromise to the quality of the product. The producers were not found doing value addition activities, whereas tail removing, grading, and packaging were done by regional level traders. Training the farmers on value addition and providing them market information can help to scale up large cardamom production enterprises.