Strengthening Seed Production, Supply and Quality Control System Project

Project Outline 

JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) signed Record of Discussions with the Government of Nepal for the technical cooperation project "Strengthening Seed Production, Supply and Quality Control System Project". The implementation period of the project is for 5 years (2022 March to 2027 March) and the Executing agency is Seed Quality Control Center (SQCC), Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MOALD), Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC), and Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives (MoLMAC) of province No.1.

The project shall be implemented in Province 1, mainly Jhapa, Morang, Sunasari and Udayapur districts. The purpose of the project is "to strengthen Rice seed production, supply and quality control system" to improve productivity of rice by means of dissemination of quality improved seeds in Province No.1 and to Strengthen the implementation of the rice seed production, supply and quality control system in Nepal.

Rice is fundamental crop of Nepali agriculture. Everyone eats it, and farmers gain income out of it. In order to make crop tasty, nutritious, and productive, the most important factor remains the quality of rice seeds.

Even though rice farming contributes around 15 % of the National GDP of Nepal, there is still possibility to increase its yield therefore usage of improved Seed and increasing the replacement rate of seed are the key.

According to the statistic, seed replacement rate of rice in Nepal is around 20% now, therefore, Nepal Government has the strategy to raise the percentage to 25 percent. And it is estimated that the use of improved seeds with good quality will increase its yield by 15%. However, there are several processes before farmers can use the improved seeds with good quality, it is necessary to improve of the quality of the system and capacity to produce the quality seed in Nepal. In this context, holistic support for improving seed production was requested to JICA.

The Project is expected to contribute for sustainable social and economic development of Nepal during and after the implementation period of the project.

Overall goal: 

1. Productivity of rice is improved by means of dissemination of quality improved seeds in Koshi Province.

2. Strengthened rice seed production, supply and quality control system is implemented in Nepal.

Project purpose:  Rice seed production, supply and quality control system is strengthened.

Implementing Agency:

Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD), Seed Quality Control Centre (SQCC), Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC), Directorate of Agriculture Development (DoAD) / Ministry of Industry, Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOIAC) of Koshi Province.

Beneficiaries:

Direct Beneficiaries

MoALD, SQCC, NARC, DoAD of Koshi Province, Central Agricultural Laboratory (CAL), Seed testing Laboratory (STL), Agricultural Development Farm (ADF), AKC, Local Governments, Seed Producers (public and private sectors)

Indirect Beneficiaries

Agro-Vet, Rice Millers, Seed processing /distribution companies, farmers. 

 

Target Areas:  Koshi Province (Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Udayapur) as model province.

* Province No.2 and Lumbini Province will be covered in some activities such as training for technical staffs.

 

Expected Project Outputs

 

Project Activities and Progress (up to now)

General Activities

S.N.	Activities	Unit	No.	No. of participants/Beneficiaries	Remarks
1	Kick-off meeting	time	1	30	Completed
2	Baseline survey	time	1	-	Completed
3	1st JCC meeting	time	2	10	Completed
4	Workplan formulation & Counterparts Fund Application	time	1	-	Completed
5	Provincial-level Project Introductory Workshop	time	1	60	Completed
6	District-level Project Introductory Workshop	time	4	119	Completed
7	Training in Japan	time	1	8	Completed
8	2nd JCC Meeting	time	1	-	Planned (soon)

 

Output 1:  Seed production plan is developed and implemented through coordination between federal and provincial stakeholders.

Activities for Output-1 start in 2080-81

S.N.	Activities	Unit	No.	No. of participants/Beneficiaries	Remarks
1	TWG* formulation	time	1	-	Completed
2	District-level TWG meeting	time	4	-	Soon (Nov-Dec)
3	Provincial-level TWG meeting	time	1	-	Completed

* TWG (Technical Working Group) is a seed production planning mechanism in the Project.

 

Output 2:  Quality control of rice seed (NS/BS) is improved by capacity improvement of production, inspection, and certification.                                                                        

S.N.	Activities	Unit	No.	No. of participants/Beneficiaries	Remarks
1	Evaluation of NS and BS quality at NRRP	season	1	-	Completed
2	Review meeting on NS quality assessment	time	1	25	31 Mar 2023
3	NS Demonstration at NRRP	season	1	-	On-going
4	Technical Seminar	time	1	30	13 Oct 2023

 

Output 3:  Quality control of rice seed (FS (SS), CS (LS) and IS) is improved by capacity improvement of production, inspection and certification

S.N.	Activities	Unit	No.	No. of participants/Beneficiaries	Remarks
1	Seed Production Technical Training (2022)	time	4	91	Completed
2	Seed Production Demonstration (2023)	place	8	-	Completed
3	Farmer Talk* (2023)	time	7	-	Completed
4	Seed Production and Quality Control Training (2023)	time	4	100	Completed
5	Farmer Field Day	time	4	120	Completed

* Farmer talk:  simple training and discussion at the demo. field with neighboring seed farmers. 

 

Output 4:  Awareness of IS is increased by public and private stakeholders.

S.N.	Activities	Unit	No.	No. of participants/Beneficiaries	Remarks
1	Awareness raising on rice seed system and regulation. (2022)	time	4	91	Completed This activity is combined in the seed production training of OP-3.
2	Project Poster Formulation & Distribution	-	-	270	On-going
3	Awareness raising on rice seed system and regulation. (2023)	time	4	100	Completed This activity is combined in the seed production training of OP-3.

 

Summary JICA Poster (Nepali)

 

 

Summary JICA Poster (English)