Sukkhadhan irrigated new hopes in Janaki’s family

Janaki Bohora, resident of Payal-6, Madane, Achham consists of 6 members (2 children, father in-law, mother in law and her husband). Her elder daughter studies intermediate level and younger daughter is 1 years old. Her husband migrates to India for seasonal job to strive his family. Her own land hardly feeds her family year-round as the productivity of rice was very less due to water scarcity and lack of superior varieties. Due to water scarcity, her father in law used to stay up to late night quarreling with villagers to irrigate field. She has total 10 ropani of land where she produce around 17.5 quintals of rice with average productivity of 1.75 qtl/ropani.
She was cultivating local rice varieties every year which yield lower due to insufficient water for irrigation. She was in search of proper irrigation scheme or suitable variety for better productivity. At the same time, PAHAL distributed stress tolerant rice varieties in coordination with IRRI Nepal in 5 VDCs. Janaki is also a member of Budhiganga farmers group formed in support of PAHAL program. She received 5 kg of Sukkhadhan-1 which was suited in such water limited area and cultivated in 2 ropani of land. Productivity of rice was increased giving 2.25 qtl/ropani compared to 1.75 qtl/ropani of previous year. Previously DADO distributed Sukkhadhan-3 in that area which also gave satisfactory performance but Sukkhadhan-1 was cultivated for the first time. Janaki have not sold or exchanged this rice with other and not planned too as rice grain is also delicious and tasty. “Not only me, all farmers of Payal are fully satisfied from performance of Sukkhadhan-1 in all aspects and excited to scale up this variety in larger area next year” says Janaki.

Janaki is much happy now as she found variety suitable for her field. She also told that the straw is also of good quality than others. Her father in law is also very happy with PAHAL and excited due to higher production, delicious taste of the grain and good quality straw as well. “Sukkhadhan-1 is also easy to thresh than other variety reducing energy and labor. I request PAHAL program, government and non-government organizations to support and avail such type of enough seed in upcoming year too” says father in law of Janaki. Farmers of Payal were not aware of such stress tolerant rice varieties previously. They were oriented about such stress and tolerant varieties, other complete information about such varieties like method of sowing, transplanting, period of harvesting etc. In coordination with DADO, Achham, PAHAL program then distributed such stress tolerant varieties of rice from the support of IRRI Nepal to benefit farmers of Achham. Janaki now suggests other farmers to cultivate Sukkhadhan-1 in water scarce area after knowing its recommended domain. She says that many farmers who are food insecure due to irrigation problem will have enhanced food security from the intervention of such activities. It can also be exchanged with other local varieties in greater volume or also can be sold in market easily at higher price due to high quality. In future, farmers like her expect such support of improved varieties to every farmer with ease. “I would like to thank PAHAL program and IRRI Nepal for selecting and conducting such significant activities at right time and place and hope for more seed support and such programs in future” states Janaki.