Rice festival was organize by
Karnali Kala Kendra at Chumchaur Jyulo, to promote rice cultivation practice and
Agro tourism in highest elevation of world. Festival was supported by Patarasi
Village Municipality. Its aim to continue every year.
Though, Hilly and Terai region of Nepal celebrate rice festival on Asar 15,Jumla celebrates a month before national Ropai day because of Himali region.
Jumla lies in the north of mid western
mountains of Nepal. Rice (Oryza sativa L) cultivation in Jumla ranges from
2,400 to 3,050 m altitude, which is the highest elevation in the world. The
highest elevation at 3,050m is Chhumchaur Jyulo of Jumla, a record altitude,
where rice is cultivated in Nepal. Jumli Marshi, a Japonica variety of indigenous
rice, having cold tolerant gene, is probably cultivated since 1,300 years ago
in Jumla in the bank of the Tila river.
Improved rice varieties were
tested in the Jumla valley by the Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC).
In 2002, two improved rice varieties Chandannath-1 and Chandannath-3 were
released for temperate region of Jumla and Karnali zone.
Productivity of rice in Jumla is
1.7 mt/ha almost 40% lower than that of national average of 2.97 t/ha. Low
productivity of rice is mainly due to the constraints of many biotic, abiotic
and socio-economic factors. Food security in the food deficit region of the
Karnali zone could be sustained by increasing rice productivity in the Jumla
region where perennial irrigation is available round the year.
Whole of the Jumla region is
unique place with respect to rice cultivation in the highest altitude of the
world. The practice of rice cultivation in Jumla could be a remarkable activity
for boosting agro-tourism in the agrarian country like Nepal.
Rice cultivation in Jumla is
quite unique from the rice cultivation even in the same range of temperate
region. Such a typical organic rice production system in the highest elevation
of the world needs immediate attention of all institutions and authorities
concerned to conserve it for the future generation as well.
Jumla, the temperate region, is
also affected by the impact of global warming thereby receding water level in
the Juwa and Tila river and its tributaries flowing in the Jumla valleys during
rice growing season (March - October). Refrence RN Paudel
From last 10/12 years 99 percent
farmers from this area leave rice cultivating practices because of following
reason;
- Yarshagumba seasons starts on same period so they choose Yarsha collection and earn more from it.
- Repeated Hell stones at the time of harvesting demoralize for farming rice.
- No concern organization looked for recovery even different infection like Blast and others have finished their production
- In terms of working and caring the rice, Production is very low.
- Harvesting time of different crops make them difficult to manage time and labour.
Though so many problems are around, Patarasi village municipality aims maximum 130 House holds start rice farming from this year.for this they had distributed the rice plants on free to motivate farmers and promote Agro tourism in area.
